Jeremy Bates isn't afraid of challenges and rocky terrain. We know this because he once hiked the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail -- alone.
That mentality should serve him well in his new job as New York Jets offensive coordinator because he has no starting quarterback and he inherits the 28th-ranked offense. This could make the CDT seem like a walk in Central Park.
Bates, whose anticipated promotion became official on Wednesday, has one of the toughest jobs in the NFL. He's working for a franchise that changes offensive coordinators almost as frequently as people file tax returns (six in the past eight years), and his depth chart doesn't include a single Pro Bowl player.