No, the door was definitely left open but he chose the time to leave.
It has been obvious to me for some time that major decisions of this kind at the Jets were made by a team, of which Chevy, Chipman and Maurice himself were the major players. Obviously, his bosses had authority over Mau, but there was a unique relationship based on mutual trust, respect and core values. That was most recently evident just 1 1/2 months ago when Maurice became the de facto spokesman for the organization during the "Beechgate" scandal. Where else would the coach have been given that latitude?
I believe that for some time all 3 accepted the fact that it was this season or bust for the team and Maurice was fine with that. Chipman/Chevyhad given him lifetime financial security and huge influence within the organization, so the decision to step down for the good of the organization was not a major conflict of interest. Having such autonomy in the decision and timing was a major factor.
Last point: Because Maurice is such a stellar communicator with such a high EQ, he often made the toll his job took look easier than it was. Wrong. These jobs can just suck you dry over the years--and when no one notices and things are going poorly, it makes it even worse. Having a Christmas to spend with his family, while he is still healthy, is no accident of timing.
Best of luck to Maurice in the future. I expect he will finish his career in media, for which he is eminently suited and which has only a fraction of the stress.