For much of the past two decades, conversations about the New York Jets have centered on coaching changes and organizational instability.
It's easy to forget that some of the greatest minds in NFL history have spent time on the franchise's sidelines.
That point was reinforced recently when CBS Sports released its ranking of the 20 greatest coaches in NFL history. Three coaches with Jets ties - Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells and Weeb Ewbank - earned spots on the list, a reminder that the organization has been connected to some of football's most influential figures.
Weeb Ewbank changed the Jets' franchise history
No coach is more synonymous with the Jets than Weeb Ewbank. Ranked No. 18 by CBS Sports, Ewbank coached the franchise from 1963 through 1973 and delivered one of the most significant
victories in NFL history when the Jets defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
That victory not only secured the franchise's lone Super Bowl championship, but also helped legitimize the AFL ahead of the league merger. Ewbank's resume extends well beyond New York. Before joining the Jets, he guided the Colts to NFL championships in 1958 and 1959 while earning NFL Coach of the Year honors in 1958. His legacy remains permanently recognized through the Jets Ring of Honor and the retirement of his signature jacket.
Bill Parcells helped restore credibility
Bill Parcells' tenure with the Jets lasted only three seasons, but its impact was undeniable. Ranked No. 13 on CBS Sports' list, Parcells inherited a struggling franchise in 1997 and quickly restored competitiveness, leading New York to the AFC Championship Game during the 1998 season.
While his greatest accomplishments came with the New York Giants and New England Patriots, Parcells helped lay the foundation for one of the Jets' most successful stretches of the modern era.
Belichick's Jets chapter remains unforgettable
Bill Belichick claimed the top spot in CBS Sports' rankings thanks to the dynasty he built with the Patriots. Long before that, however, he spent three seasons with the Jets as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator under Parcells.
His brief tenure in New York is remembered as one of the NFL's great "what ifs," as Belichick famously resigned as the Jets' head coach before ever coaching a game, paving the way for his eventual move to New England.
The Jets haven't always enjoyed coaching stability, particularly in recent years. Yet their history remains intertwined with three of the game's greatest football minds. Whether through Super Bowl glory, franchise turnarounds or one of the NFL's most famous near-misses, Ewbank, Parcells and Belichick each left a mark on the organization—and their places among football's coaching legends only reinforce that legacy.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Former Jets coaches land among legends in historical NFL ranking
