New York Jets Special Teams: Falcons STC Keith Armstrong's Deal About to Expire

Despite the fact that the New York Jets special teams unit played poorly this season, the firing of STC Bobby April still came as a surprise to me. With around 25 years of experience, he has long been regarded as one of the best in the NFL, winning STC Coach of the Year twice, in 2004 and then in 2008. With some of the shuffling of the players on the unit at the end of the season, it seemed to indicate that personnel was to blame and not the coordinator.

I don't believe that HC Todd Bowles would act so hastily without a plan, and it does seem as though he clearly had a candidate in mind. It is one whom he has pursued in the past, one with whom he has longstanding ties, and as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, one who will soon most likely be available:

Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong was blocked by the team from interviewing with the New York Jets last season.

The Jets, who are coached by Armstrong's former college teammate Todd Bowles, fired their special teams coordinator on Wednesday.

Falcons assistants are evaluating their players this week. Armstrong is believed to be in the last year of his contract with the team.

Reporter D. Orlando Ledbetter also clarifies that is the previous 2015 season's deal which will soon be up:

2015. Deal should expire soon https://t.co/vuJoCtnegN

— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) January 7, 2016

YouTube has taken down clips of it due to NFL copyright issues, but you may also remember him from a "Hard Knocks" episode in which he lit into his unit. If our head coach can use his sway and work something out with Keith, this could become a very good partnership. Hopefully, Todd bowls him over so we don't have to strong arm him. (Come on, that's gold!)