Jets Country

Ron Middleton Is Living Out His Head Coaching Dream During Jets' COVID-19 Outbreak

New York Jets tight ends coach Ron Middleton is living his dream against the Jacksonville Jaguars, replacing head coach Robert Saleh who is out with COVID-19.

Max Goodman

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While nobody in the Jets organization was hoping for a COVID-19 outbreak this week, there is some silver lining to New York's barrage of positive cases for tight ends coach Ron Middleton.

Middleton has been filling in as an interim head coach this week since Robert Saleh tested positive for the virus on Wednesday.

The expectation is that Saleh won't clear COVID protocols by Sunday, giving Middleton a chance to live out his dream, roaming the sidelines on game day as a head coach for the first time. 

"Very much so, I'm looking forward to it," Middleton told reporters on Friday. "Earlier in my career, that was the goal. As you age, your goals change, take different paths and what not. But yeah, I’ve always wanted to be a head coach, and I just appreciate Robert  giving me this opportunity to get a taste of it. It’s been great."

READ: Jets' Robert Saleh Plans For 'Miserable' Experience, Likely to Miss Game With COVID-19

Middleton played 10 years as a tight end in the NFL, spending five seasons (and winning a Super Bowl) with Washington. Since his playing career came to a close, Middleton has been coaching at different levels since 1997, most recently spending eight seasons with Jacksonville as their tight ends coach before joining New York's coaching staff.

Asked if he'll have an emotional speech for Jets players and the rest of the coaching staff before kickoff on Sunday—as Gang Green prepares to host the Jaguars—Middleton chuckled. 

"I don’t know, I think I’m a pretty emotional person," he said. "I’m very passionate about football. I usually just let it happen, so I don’t have anything planned. I know the question was by Sunday, I don’t know. I’m just going to let it happen."

New York has had a few players come back from the reserve/COVID-19 list in recent days, like backup quarterback Mike White, special teams standout Justin Hardee and wide receiver Jeff Smith. But there are still 16 players remaining in COVID protocols leading up to Sunday's game, including a slew of starters.

Nonetheless, Middleton said everyone in the building has been acting like true professionals in the face of this unprecedented adversity.

"The coordinators and the assistant coaches doing their deal, the players doing their deal, the equipment room, the training staff, it’s been a smooth operation," Middleton explained. "It’s kind of scary with everything that is going on and whatnot and all the uncertainty, but people are just going about their business and it’s been pretty good, it’s been very smooth."

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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