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Jets Exploring Every Avenue, Bringing Back Cardinals' Bowles For Second Interview

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It appears the Jets really want to hire Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their next head coach, but it's possible they may have to wait three more weeks before they can make him an offer.

In the interim, the Jets don't plan to just sit around thinking positive thoughts.

As Quinn and the Seahawks ready for their NFC Championship game matchup with the Green Bay Packers, the Jets have made it clear they will wait for their top choice. However, they also plan to not be left empty-handed should Quinn opt to go elsewhere.

Owner Woody Johnson, along with consultants Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf, has reportedly set up a second interview with Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and has scheduled a first sit-down with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott.

League rules state the Jets cannot negotiate with Quinn until after the Seahawks' season ends, and that might not happen for a while considering Seattle is the No. 1 seed in the NFC and is trying to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champion since the New England Patriots pulled off the trick in 2003 and 2004.

But the Jets remain poised to make their move, having reportedly planned to send executives immediately to Seattle on Saturday night had the Seahawks lost their divisional round game to Carolina.

The Seahawks won 31-17, due in large part to Quinn's stellar defense.

Many believe Quinn, 44, is a perfect fit for the Jets because he's reportedly received high marks as a potential overseer of all three facets of a team, not just for his prowess with the defense. A lack of innovation on offense was something that haunted the Jets' former head coach, Rex Ryan, throughout his six years with the team.

Quinn is also a native of Morristown, New Jersey. He still has family in the area and has familiarity with the Jets, having coached their defensive line in 2007 and 2008.

If the Seahawks advance to the Super Bowl the Jets can hold a second interview with Quinn during the first of the two weeks leading up to the big game.

Bowles, 51, played for eight seasons in the NFL, mostly with Washington, and was the starting safety for the Redskins when they won the Super Bowl following the 1987 season. As a coach, he has received a lot of credit for turning the Cardinals' defense into one of the NFL's best.

A native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, Bowles was the Jets' defensive backs coach in 2000 and has since worked for five different teams, including spending the last two seasons in his current position with Arizona.

Next to Quinn, Bowles is considered one of the top head coaching candidates on the market. He's drawn considerable interest from a few teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, who fired Mike Smith following the regular season.

The Jets also plan to talk to McDermott, whose Panthers finished as the 10th-ranked defense in the league this season. Carolina allowed just 43 points over the final four weeks as it rallied to win the NFC South before taking out Arizona in the wild card round.

McDermott, 40, has been Carolina's defensive coordinator for the last four seasons.

According to multiple reports, the Jets were also close to hiring Houston Texans director of college scouting Mike Maccagnan as general manager on Monday.

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