Jets extend Bowles; Bucs keep Koetter

Coaches taken off potential ‘Black Monday’ firing list.

The Jets are choosing stability over a shake-up.

The team announced Friday it extended the contracts of general manager Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles, keeping the pair signed for at least the next three seasons through 2020.

The extensions are for two years each, according to a person with direct knowledge of the contracts.

“During their time here, they have worked together to help the organization build a foundation on which to grow,” acting owner and CEO Christopher Johnson said in a statement. “They are identifying, developing and getting productivity out of our players . ... I believe we are headed in the right direction.”

New York is 5-10 and will miss the playoffs for the seventh straight year and the third under Maccagnan and Bowles. But Bowles is credited with instilling a culture change among his players, who were in mostly every game this year. Seven of the Jets’ 10 losses have been by 10 points or fewer.

Buccaneers: Coach Dirk Koetter will return next season despite Tampa Bay’s last-place finish in the NFC South, multiple reports said.

With the Bucs at 4-11 heading into Sunday’s season finale against the Saints, there was speculation regarding Koetter’s future. There also were reports that former Bucs coach and ESPN analyst Jon Gruden was interested in the job.

Koetter admitted earlier this week that speculation about his job being in danger was a “distraction.”

Colts: Andrew Luck looks healthy and sounds confident. All he has to do now is prove he can still sling a football.

After spending six weeks rehabbing his throwing shoulder in the Netherlands, the Colts quarterback returned to Indianapolis on Friday with a promising prognosis.

“The pain has significantly gone down and that’s why I’m so optimistic,” Luck said in his first public comments in more than two months. “I feel really good today. I do not feel like I need another surgery. I believe in the process I’m in right now.”

Luck even hopes to participate in the Colts’ offseason workout this spring.

Patriots: James Harrison is happy to be with Patriots and he’s done talking about his departure from the Steelers.

The 39-year-old linebacker would not say what factored into his decision to leave and would not address the critical comments by some former teammates since his release by Pittsburgh last week.

“I like to compete. That’s my main reason to go out and play the game,” said Harrison, who added he didn’t receive any other offers after he was released.

Eagles: Quarterback Nick Foles and the other starters will play against Dallas on Sunday. How long depends on how they perform, coach Doug Pederson said.

The Eagles (13-2) have secured the NFC’s No. 1 seed but looked sloppy in their most recent wins against the Giants and Raiders.

Titans: Running back DeMarco Murray, who sprained his right knee last week against the Rams, was ruled out of Sunday’s mustwin regular-season finale against the Jaguars.

Texans: Receiver DeAndre Hopkins will miss the first game of his career Sunday because of a calf injury. Hopkins leads the NFL with a franchise-record 13 touchdown catches. His 1,378 yards are second in the league.

Packers: Receivers Davante Adams (concussion) and Jordy Nelson (shoulder) are among six key players who will miss the finale against Detroit with injuries.

Giants: The club’s leading receivers, rookie tight end Evan Engram (ribs) and wideout Sterling Shepard (neck), will not play Sunday against the Redskins.

Falcons: Signed offensive lineman Jamil Douglas from the practice squad after center Alex Mack (calf ) missed practice Thursday and Friday and guards Andy Levitre (triceps) and Wes Schweitzer (groin) were limited both days.

AP Despite a 5-10 record, Todd Bowles kept a Jets team many considered the least talented in the league competitive in most of its games. GM Mike Maccagnan also received a two-year contract extension Friday.