When Todd Monken was interviewing with the Jets for their head coaching vacancy in 2019, the team likened his abilities to a luxury car.
Just not the right luxury car.
Monken, who now serves as head coach of the Browns, opened up in a press conference Friday about his then-candidacy to fill the Jets’ opening to succeed Todd Bowles.
He told reporters that the pairing “didn’t work out that time,” but he “never looked at myself any differently” when the Jets ultimately went with Adam Gase.
Monken then added that after being passed over for the position, someone in the Jets’ organization compared the situation to luxury vehicles.
“Someone from the Jets organization told me this, now that I’m going to mention it,” Monken said. “It was one of the guys that were in the interview process. He said, ‘Don’t ever forget that you’re a Mercedes when you look in the mirror. You can’t control if they wanted a Lexus. Doesn’t matter how good a Mercedes you are… if they want the other, there’s nothing you can do about it. That doesn’t mean you’re not capable. It’s like all of us. When you go through interviews, you’re going through certain stages. You’re like, you know what, there’s things I certainly could’ve improved — interviewing, all those things’
“Ultimately, they chose a different model. That was their choice.”
Nevertheless, Monken said that he “really appreciated” the Jets giving him an interview.
Monken ended up joining Cleveland’s staff as an offensive coordinator for the 2019 season, and after stints coaching the Georgia Bulldogs and Ravens, rejoined the Browns to be their head coach this season.
In hindsight, the Jets perhaps went in the wrong direction, as Gase led the team to a 9-23 record during his tenure before being fired after the 2020 season.
Monken will now coach against the Jets on Sunday in a Week 5 matchup at MetLife Stadium.
