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Keith Armstrong to the New York Jets?

By John Buhler

Oct 23, 2014; Hertfordshire, UNITED KINGDOM; Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong at practice at the Arsenal Training Centre in advance of the International Series game against the Detroit Lions. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2014; Hertfordshire, UNITED KINGDOM; Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong at practice at the Arsenal Training Centre in advance of the International Series game against the Detroit Lions. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Keith Armstrong has been the Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator since 2008, but would he join his college teammate Todd Bowles‘ staff in New York?

Keith Armstrong has been one of the best special teams coordinators in the National Football League for the last two decades. Armstrong has coordinated the special teams for the Chicago Bears (1997-00), the Miami Dolphins (2001-07), and the Atlanta Falcons (2008-present).

While Armstrong may have a future as being a future head coach in the NFL as he is only 52 years and he did conduct an interview for the job that went to Dan Quinn in 2015, there is a possibility that he may end up leaving the Dirty Birds of Flowery Branch for the Gang Green of East Rutherford.

According to Kimberley A. Martin of NewsDay Sports, the New York Jets have fired three assistants from Todd Bowles’ 2015 staff, including special teams coordinator Bobby April. The Jets went 10-6, but still missed the AFC Playoffs after losing Week 17 to the Buffalo Bills, 22-17.

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Martin believes that Bowles may look to bring his former college teammate Keith Armstrong to the Jets organization as April’s replacement. Bowles and Armstrong played collegiately for the Temple Owls in the late 1980s.

Atlanta had supposedly blocked Keith Armstrong from interviewing for a job with the New York Jets this past offseason, thus bringing him back to Flowery Branch for the eighth consecutive season.

Not to say that Keith Armstrong will join Todd Bowles’ staff with the New York Jets, but it does seem inevitable that a coach as strong as Armstrong will one day soon leave the Atlanta Falcons organization, possibly as a head coach.

His special teams units are almost always one of the best in football and he could certainly become an NFL head coach going the Dave Wannstedt/John Harbaugh route as former special teams coordinators.

While Armstrong may look to pair up with his fellow Owl in Bowles in East Rutherford, keep in mind that Armstrong and Dan Quinn were both on Nick Saban’s staff together with the Miami Dolphins.

Losing a coach of Armstrong’s caliber would severely hurt the Atlanta Falcons, but blocking him from interviewing with the New York Jets for the second straight season seems both paranoid and unrealistic, should Keith Armstrong want to at least interview for a gig with Todd Bowles’ team.

Though 2014 was arguably a better year for the Atlanta Falcons special teams, Keith Armstrong did have to deal with two key injuries to kick returner Devin Hester and kicker Matt Bryant. Eric Weems did a respectable job returning kicks in Hester’s absence. Shayne Graham did well in place of Bryant kicking field goals down the stretch. Punter Matt Bosher had possibly his best season as a professional booming kicks for the Dirty Birds.

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A great deal of credit to the special teams being able to handle such adversity has to go to Keith Armstrong. Hopefully he does stay with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 and beyond, but if he does and is able to go to the New York Jets, it’s an understandable lateral move for one of the best special teams coordinator in football.

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