With Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn still involved in the playoffs, the New York Jets are focusing their attention on Todd Bowles, the highly-regarded Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator.

Bowles is scheduled to arrive in New Jersey late Tuesday for his second interview and -- this is the important part -- he's slated to meet with general manager-in-waiting Mike Maccagnan, according to a source. Bowles is the first head-coaching candidate to return for a second interview.

Maccagnan and Bowles have no prior working relationship, so this will be a get-acquainted session to gauge their compatibility. Bowles' candidacy has gained traction in recent days, perhaps because the Jets are concerned about waiting for Quinn, who is thought to be the frontrunner. By rule, Quinn can't be offered the job until his season is over, which could be Feb. 1 in the Super Bowl. By then, it might be hard to put together a good staff.

Bowles also is drawing serious interest from the Atlanta Falcons, who have scheduled him for a second interview. The Jets are mindful of that, so it might behoove them to keep him in the building and wrap up a deal before he can get on a plane to Atlanta -- if they feel that strongly about him. One of the key questions is his offensive coordinator; Bowles reportedly is interested in Cards quarterbacks coach Freddie Kitchens and Chan Gailey, whose name is circulating in the job mill after sitting out two seasons.

Bowles is a Bill Parcells disciple, and Parcells is said to be pushing Bowles in Atlanta, where his son-in-law -- Scott Pioli -- is a Falcons executive.

Aside from Bowles, the Jets have another interview on their dance card, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, whom they will meet Wednesday for the first time.

Bowles has raised his stock with the fine work he's done the past two seasons in Arizona. He has no head-coaching experience, save for three games as the Miami Dolphins' interim coach at the end of the 2011 season. Bowles is a New Jersey guy -- grew up in Elizabeth -- and served as the Jets' secondary coach in 2000, when he was handpicked by Parcells, who ran the front office.

Meanwhile, the Jets still haven't announced the Maccagnan hiring, although all signs point to him being named the general manager soon.