NEW YORK -- The Jets had a second meeting with Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo about their head-coaching vacancy earlier this week, a person familiar with the search told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Spagnuolo, considered one of the top candidates for the job, met with Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum on Tuesday at Johnson's Manhattan office, according to the person, who requested anonymity because the team isn't discussing the interviews.
Johnson was on vacation when Spagnuolo first met with the Jets on Jan. 3 and wanted him to come back for a personal meeting. Johnson did the same for the first two candidates: Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and assistant head coach-offensive line coach Bill Callahan.
The team has interviewed at least six other candidates. No other interviews were scheduled as of Thursday night.
Spagnuolo, Schottenheimer and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan are widely believed to be at the top of the Jets' list, although the team hasn't decided on finalists. The Jets appear to be in no rush to hire a coach, and perhaps delaying the team's decision is the fact that Ryan and Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm are still coaching teams in the playoffs.
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Ryan's Ravens are at Pittsburgh on Sunday for the AFC Championship Game, and Grimm's Cardinals will host the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game.
Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and former Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski also interviewed with the Jets. Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh also has reportedly met with Jets officials, but the team would neither confirm nor deny that an interview with him took place.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press