NEW YORK — The New York Jets had a second meeting with Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo earlier this week about their coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the search told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Spagnuolo, considered one of the top candidates for the job, met with owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum on Tuesday at the Jets owner’s Manhattan office, according to the person, who requested anonymity because the Jets are not discussing the interviews.
Johnson was on vacation when Spagnuolo first met with the Jets on Jan. 3, and wanted him to come back for a personal meeting. Johnson did the same for the first two candidates: Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and assistant head coach-offensive line coach Bill Callahan.
The team has interviewed at least six other candidates. No other interviews were scheduled as of Thursday night.
Spagnuolo, Schottenheimer and Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan are widely believed to be at the top of New York’s list, although the team has not decided on finalists. The Jets appear to be in no rush to hire a coach, and perhaps delaying the team’s decision is the fact that Ryan and Arizona assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm are still coaching teams in the playoffs.
Ryan’s Ravens are at Pittsburgh on Sunday for the AFC championship, while Grimm’s Cardinals will host Philadelphia for the NFC title.
Indianapolis defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and former Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski also interviewed with the team. Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh has also reportedly met with Jets officials, but the team would neither confirm nor deny that an interview took place.
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