Weeks after dismissing head coach Robert Saleh, the Jets have also cleaned house in the front office. General manager Joe Douglas has been fired, as first reported by SNY’s Connor Hughes. The move is now official, with the team announcement noting veteran executive Phil Savage will serve as interim GM.
2024 marked the final year of Douglas’ deal, leading to plenty of speculation at the the start of the season regarding his job security. He, Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett received a mulligan after the 2023 campaign was marred by Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear. The current season has not gone according to plan, however, and Saleh was fired in October. Hackett remains on staff, but he was replaced by Todd Downing as the team’s offensive play-caller in the wake of Saleh’s departure.
[RELATED: GM Lost Authority Following Saleh’s Firing]
Douglas was not involved in the decision to make a coaching change, something which created the recent appearance of a disconnect between he and owner Woody Johnson. With the campaign headed toward another finish outside of the playoffs, the latter has chosen to make another major organizational change. New York’s efforts in the coming offseason will certainly be a central league storyline.
Naturally, the midseason coaching alterations led to a fresh round of questions concerning Douglas’ standing in the organization. A report from last month indicated both Douglas and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich were held in high regard by Johnson, however, which suggested the pair would have the remainder of the season to try and oversee a playoff push. Ulbrich has gone 1-5 since taking over, and as such the postseason is out of reach at this point. Rather than allowing Douglas to finish his contract, the team has moved on ahead of time.
Douglas took New York’s GM gig in 2019 after tenures with the Ravens, Bears and Eagles. His time in various capacities across those organizations boosted his stock and led to high expectations for the Jets’ rebuilding efforts with him at the helm. The first year of the Douglas era resulted in a 7-9 campaign with Sam Darnold at quarterback and Adam Gase in place as head coach.
That pairing remained in the fold for one more year, one which resulted in a 2-14 record and sweeping changes being made. Gase was replaced by Saleh, while Darnold was traded away. The latter’s replacement – Zach Wilson – was viewed as the central focus of New York’s ability to return to the postseason. Instead, the former No. 2 pick struggled throughout his Jets tenure, posting a 12-21 record and throwing more interceptions (25) than touchdowns (23). The Saleh-Douglas tandem was retained to oversee another overhaul at the QB spot, with Rodgers being acquired via trade from the Packers last offseason.
That move (which has been followed by a number of other ones aimed at accommodating the four-time MVP’s wishes) was aimed at providing stability under center to complement a roster seen as having a number of capable producers at several other positions. That includes the likes of Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Jermaine Johnson and Breece Hall. Each of those players were selected in the 2022 draft, and they profile as long-term building blocks for Douglas’ successor to inherit. Still, the failure of the Jets to find an effective solution at the QB spot under Douglas will form much of his legacy.
Rodgers has been in place for 2024, but – despite swinging a deal for Davante Adams ahead of the deadline and working out an agreement which ended the much-maligned Haason Reddick holdout – the Jets sit at 3-8. Rodgers’ future for next season is in the air, and it remains to be seen who will be in place as the team’s head coach and general manager by that time. Johnson may also have another ambassador position in place once the 2025 campaign begins, something which could accelerate the timing of hiring decisions on the sidelines and/or in the front office.
Overall, Douglas will depart the Jets with a record of 30-64. Each of his five full campaigns ended with a losing record, and that will likely be the case for 2024 as well. The Jets’ postseason drought has continued under his supervision, and ending it will be a top priority for whomever Johnson brings in for 2025 and beyond. Douglas’ attention will likely focus on a return to scouting or a player personnel role with his next organization; given his run in charge of the Jets, another GM opportunity should not be expected to be on the horizon.
Still can’t fire the owner. That’s the root cause of the problem.
I would try at least.
Fire Johnson from a cannon and into the Meadowlands’ Swamp and make him walk home
Then I would have is car or car service towed back to his home and make Johnson pay for it
what respected GM and Coach is going to want to work for Woody? SMH.
Can’t wait to see who Aaron has picked for the next GM
Himself.
QB-GM-HC
He could probably talk New England into letting Eliot Wolf walk if he really wants to keep the Parade of Former Packer Dudes going.
People are blaming Rodgers, but he’s probably gone too.
It’s kind of ironic to see Saleh and Douglas both fired, but Hackett is still somehow hanging around.
I don’t know. Whatever Rodgers is off the field, he wasn’t the player people are trying to make him out to be as a Jet when he was with the Packers.
On the Packers, he played football.
“If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas”.
Another GM bites the dust.
That’s the GM n the HC who wanted Rogers both fired unceremoniously in-season. Who’s next the wash-up diva QB ? Cleaning house.
HAHAHAHA
I liked Joe Douglas a lot. I think the trades and acquisitions he made were well thought out. Theres a ton of talent on the roster, but obviously it didn’t work out. I think he was way better than Maccagnan at the very least lol
This obviously fixes their issues.
The Jets and Giants exchange front office personnel and coaches…problem solved 🙂
One front office indulged in Daniel Jones only to have Saquon Barkley leave. The other front office indulged in Aaron Rodgers only to let the team’s defense rot.
So GM is gone, The HC is gone, They say Rodgers is gone. Exactly what’s left?Just the future jokes I guess. 1st round pick for ’25? A Kicker.
The Jets are giving the team mascot an extension and elevating everyone on the practice squad. Everything is under control 🙂
They’re just making moves to feel like they’re doing something at this point. Catharsis, I guess. Firing Saleh was impulsive and pointless. Firing Douglas now accomplishes absolutely nothing. He whiffed on taking Becton over Wirfs, the Reddick thing was embarrassing, and he’s presided over terrible quarterback situations, but he’s also built strong rosters in general. He was going to be gone this offseason, but there’s no reason to fire him now other than to scratch an itch. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’s a fine GM elsewhere some day.
He was a fine GM when he was here. I thought he handled the Reddick thing as good as anyone could, he didnt budge to Reddicks demands and got him back on the team. However, i didnt like how instead of simply bringing back Bryce Huff, we let him walk bc we didnt wanna pay him and we had McDonald and then we go get an edge rusher who cost just as much lol
I think letting Huff go was fine, but between that, Reddick’s absence, losing Johnson for the year (a very under-recognized problem), trading JFM for pennies (which I still don’t get), and replacing some useful rotational interior players with Kinlaw, they turned a strength to a liability overnight.
Oh I was ok with losing Huff to start McDonald, but i was then left scratching my head that we then traded for another edge rusher that cost a similar amount and wouldve sidelined McDonald. I do think Joe handled Reddick post acquisition well, but the acquisition shouldve never happened. And yeah i dont understand losing JFM just to keep someone like Clemons. And losing JJ is a huge problem but not one you can blame on your GM or see coming, I was like 1 week away from getting a JJ jersey too then he went down
Screw up the QB position as badly as he did, and this is what happens. This is the most critical decision for any GM and coaching staff, and the New Jersey teams seem to have a knack for picking the worst possible quarterbacks over the past few years.
It was just bad timing for them. No one hit on a QB in that 2021 draft
So you back up the Brinks truck for an aging power-hungry hippie? That deal is going to kill their cap for the next three years (at least)
Aaron is not the problem and theyll be fine lol especially if theyre considering cleaning house theyll be ok. Cap room issues seem to not really matter, teams find ways around it all the time
Ehhh to be honest, I never felt that Wilson was Douglas’ choice. He made a lot of smart moves in building a good foundation over the years, and then picked a questionable player at 2 in a year where it felt like the owner told him to get a move on. I could be wrong.
We should also remember that Woody Johnson didn’t run the team when Saleh and Douglas were building it up. Christopher Johnson hired Saleh and Woody came back and fired him. It just seems to me that Woody has his fingerprints on most the poor management decisions…I wouldn’t doubt if he found time during his ambassadorship to make it known what he wanted done with the second overall pick. Just my baseless speculation.
Only accomplishment he had was the Jamal trade, hang the banner jets fans!!
Breaking News: Pat McAfee hired as new GM of the New York Jets
It’s almost comical that Hackett is the last man standing after the HC and GM were fired.
i mean hes barely standing. he took a demotion. not like joe or saleh wouldve taken demotions♂️
That’s funny, Aaron is their GM.
Beat me to it.
You are spot on with this comment.
The owner wanted Aaron. The GM got Aaron. In order to get Aaron he needed to have assurances. The GM did everything he could to make the QB that the owner wanted a happy player.
This entire debacle falls in the lap of the owner.
Who would even want the job? As long as Johnson is the owner, the Jets will just be a poorer executing version of the Cowboys.
NYG have entered the chat
Mr. Johnson, Bill Belichick on line 1…
Can’t see it. But, as a side to their “defensive playcaller” lottery, the Jets could also have a “GM for a week ” lottery now. Although, not sure if AR would approve.
You want to bring in a 70-something man whose career was ended by the Jets? Be ready to own “4-13 Forever”.
Circle of Life, gangsta style there
@ChuckyNJ I don’t *want* to see Belichick back with the Jets, I’m just saying Woody is desperate and will probably attempt to interview him. Bill gets a chance to take revenge vs Pats twice a year and shows that he can turn this pathetic franchise around…why wouldn’t he be interested in at least talking to the Jets? Since nobody wanted to hire him this year, what’s going to change in the next?? Bill might not have the options he thinks he’ll have.
Not a chance Belichick wants this job.
This is a rebuild or transition team.
Belichick is sitting at home hoping a team that needs to get over the hump will view him as the missing ingredient.
I think he’s more likely to be viewed as the missing link.
t better revenge for BB than to resuscitate the Jets. It shows the NYJ what they missed over the past 20 years,and can make NE pay for getting rid of him.
I’m sure plenty of guys would love to be a rich head coach job for the Jets. Why is Woody the problem ? He was hand off for 4 years with Douglas/Saleh, did they accomplish anything ? Blame the GM and coach.
eh i blame woody for mid season firings being a bad move. shouldve either did it in the offseason or let it ride. that said, hes willing to fork the money and do what his GM has in mind. cant hate on it too much
rich head coach
Oh man please hire bill bellicheck
You should be wanting the Lions OC
Nobody with a Cheatriots background is going to work for the Jets.
You cannot tell me Rodgers and Bellichek wouldn’t be funny. I mean maybe not if you’re a jets or pats fan I think rest of us would love it for a season.
As a Jets fan, they all need to be euthanized
I’m sorry for your loss my condolences may the football gods bring you a better team
The Jets are gonna now go 6-0 to finish with 9 wins now that the problem is solved.
Im sure of it.
Yep. No stopping them now. No sir.
AR is GM, head coach, and defacto OC. It’s now fate.
And he has been super committed all along. Real team guy.
What can go wrong?
This is like throwing a deck chair off the Titanic and hoping it doesn’t sink
Well I guess this settles leverage gate then.
Karma’s masterpiece:
The New York Jets.
Apparently this is Aaron Rodger’s fault
Mike Lupica, Mike Vaccaro, and everyone else writing for a NYC tabloid says hi.
A-a-ron, please retire and be lucky that those people let you leave the stadium and return to the cushy home, the McAfee thing, the actresses/models, the blablablablabla. No, this isn’t a threat as I have no skin in the game beyond some cheap fantasy teams, but I’m legitimately worried for his well-being. This is from a Giants fan that feels for the Jets. Aside from my Yankees falling to the Sox like 20 years ago, can’t remember a bigger–and blatant–abomination. Really? Joe Douglas had to go? Look at the picks that he hit on. B.S. X infinity.
He’s also wiffed on a bunch of high picks too, beckton, avt, Zach Wilson, his free agent signings have been iffy as well. That’s not to say he hasn’t had his share of hits as well, sauce, hall, garret Wilson. He’s been hit or miss. He’s not the main problem but definitely not the solution.
I think Belichick will listen this time only because it gives him a chance to beat the Patriots twice a year. Considering he once resigned on a napkin back in the day, I highly doubt he’d re-join the Jets, but it depends on how bad he wants revenge against the Patriots. I feel like the Jaguars would be a better situation just because Trevor Lawrence is there.
And there are the pieces that a defensive coach would want…given that Rodgers is probably gone, Belichick would have to really want him back as a veteran who run an offense if he doesn’t want to do a full rebuild. I don’t think that Belichick wants to spend three or four years rebuilding just to maybe compete. If he thinks that he can fix what’s there without acquiring a ton of new players, he’ll probably take it. If he thinks that the Jets just a culture, and that he can install it and “fix” them, he might want the job.
It’s probably foolish to expect that someone just show up and whisk bad vibes away in a season. Problems usually have at least some personnel roots, even if culture or environment can be a huge contributor. But that doesn’t mean that someone won’t try it. Belichick’s past history with the Jets is something that I don’t know about as an outside factor. Does he care still about how he left? Does he care about Mangini blowing the whistle on him? Does Johnson care?
Jets fans care — there’ll be a fan revolt if Woody Johnson ever considers Belichick or anyone from the Foxboro Cheatriots.
That’s a shame because the Jets were on the right track with Douglas and Saleh building things up before they brought in Nim Rod. Had they stayed the course and kept investing in the O line and run the ball they could have found a game managing QB and had success. But instead, rhey got greedy and brought in Nim Rod and allowed him to dictate things that were not in the best long term interests of the club. They’ll never get anywhere with the moron owner in charge.