nfl news & notes

New York Jets: Todd Bowles is coming home and taking over as the New York Jets’ head coach. The Jets hired the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Wednesday to replace Rex Ryan, who was fired, along with general manager John Idzik, on Dec. 29 after six seasons. Bowles, 51, was highly sought after leading Arizona’s aggressive-style defense the last two seasons. This will be his first full-time head coaching job at any level after serving as Miami’s interim coach for the final three games in 2011. It is a homecoming of sorts for Bowles, who is a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey. He also served as the Jets’ defensive backs coach under then-coach Al Groh during the 2000 season. Bowles beat out five other candidates, including Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and former Buffalo coach Doug Marrone, who interviewed with owner Woody Johnson and consultants Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf, both of whom Bowles has ties to. Bowles had a second interview Tuesday with Johnson, Casserly and Wolf — along with newly hired general manager Mike Maccagnan — and impressed the Jets enough to move forward. New York canceled a scheduled interview with Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott that was set for Wednesday. Bowles also called off a second meeting with the Atlanta Falcons for their head coaching vacancy that was scheduled for Wednesday. Bowles becomes the fifth black head coach currently in the NFL, joining Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Cincinnati’s Marvin Lewis, Tampa Bay’s Lovie Smith and Detroit’s Jim Caldwell.

Chicago Bears: John Fox interviewed for the Chicago Bears’ coaching job Wednesday, two days after parting ways with the Denver Broncos. Fox is at least the sixth candidate to interview for the job. He’s widely seen as a strong possibility given his record and his ties to consultant Ernie Accorsi and new general manager Ryan Pace. Fox was the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants from 1997 to 2001 when Accorsi was the GM. Saints coach Sean Payton was the offensive coordinator for part of that time, and he is tight with Pace, who was hired out of New Orleans’ front office.

Oakland Raiders: Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has been hired as Oakland’s new head coach in hopes that the Bay Area native who grew up cheering for the Raiders can return the team to its glory days. A person with knowledge of the deal confirmed on condition of anonymity that Del Rio signed a four-year deal to replace interim coach Tony Sparano. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement had not been made. ESPN first reported the hiring. Del Rio becomes Oakland’s ninth head coach since the start of the 2003 season. The Raiders have the NFL’s worst record in that span.

Indianapolis Colts: Prosecutors have filed charges of rape, criminal confinement with bodily injury and battery resulting in bodily injury against Indianapolis Colts backup linebacker Josh McNary. Peg McLeish, a spokeswoman in the city prosecutor’s office, confirmed Wednesday that the charges were filed.

Associated Press