Adam Gase had “bug eyes” and appeared distracted/crazed with his eyes darting around the room and staring off into space during the press conference introducing him as Jets head coach.

It took Adam Gase 0 minutes to become a New York sports meme. pic.twitter.com/6Or4qm38NF — Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) January 14, 2019

Some have asked if he were on medication or on drugs.

Being the center of attention, especially on a big stage, can elicit unique reactions, but this is not Gase’s first time in the spotlight. He was head coach of the Dolphins for three years.


Is the glare of the New York spotlight that much brighter?

A review of video and reports recently in New York and previously in Miami appears to show Gase’s behavior simply is a manifestation of being uncomfortable in a position and nothing to do with drugs or his mental status being altered.

The medical term for “bug eyes” is exopthalmos. There are medical conditions that cause this, including thyroid issues.

Ticks or involuntary muscle contractions can be caused by metabolic (sometimes calcium) abnormalities.


I am sure Gase has been/will be checked for all of these conditions, as every player and coach are checked in their annual physicals, but it is my impression that there should be no medical issues.

The wide open and darting eyes seem to be part of a hypervigilant, autonomic nerve response, which is not something that is voluntarily controlled.

At a time of stress, our pupils dilate, our eyelids open to expose the white sclera and eye muscles contract to cause the eyes to jump around. This “fight or flight” response is controlled by our autonomic system and not directly controlled by Gase’s intention.

This is the reaction of someone who is uncomfortable and looking for potential danger. In fact, the American Revolutionary War phrase “don’t fire until you see the white’s of the eyes” is rooted in this response, as certainly the whites of ones eyes are easier to see in a combatant who is on full alert.


The accentuated lateral gaze can be classified as a tic. When Gase is speaking or engaged, it seems to disappear. But when he is sitting and not moving, it is unmasked.

This is much like how a Tourette’s tic is exposed at rest. And an eldery person’s tremor is improved as they shave or feed themself, while their hand is shaky when not performing a task.

Further evidence the responses are not pathologic or drug induced is that they seemed to disappear when Gase was interviewed in break-out interview sessions off the podium. He was lucid and clear in those instances, with no noticeable disturbances of affect.

In addition, a review of video when he was Dolphins head coach reveal some of these innate tendencies. One can see his eyes darting even as he speaks in a regular weekly press conference in Miami and in the press conference introducing him as Dolphins coach. When speaking or walking up to the podium, the darting eyes and tic are subdued.


Gase typically wore a cap in Dolphins press conferences, and my assumption is he will do so in New York. The hat tends to shade his eyes, thus obscuring the darting. Gase clearly seems to be more comfortable not dressed in a suit and wearing a hat.

Speaking or performing tasks eases the tendencies. Sitting on stage with nothing to do but listen accentuates them. This should have no effect on his ability to coach football.