The Jets’ process of finding their next head coach and general manager will include outside consultation. The 33rd Team has been hired to assist in the search for Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas‘ replacements, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports. The news is now official.
[RELATED: Jets Targeting Experienced HC, GM Candidates]
Specifically, Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman will take part in the process of identifying and interviewing candidates. Owner Woody Johnson will lead the search, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes, but having the 33rd Team onboard will allow for a pair of experienced former front office members to assist. This marks the NFL think tank’s first such collaboration with a franchise for a hiring process.
Tannenbaum founded the 33rd Team in 2019, one year after his tenure as the Dolphins’ EVP of football operations came to an end. That, in turn, was preceded by a run as general manager of the Jets from 2006-12. The 55-year-old constructed the team’s most recent playoff roster and has a familiarity with Johnson which could help over the coming months. Tannenbaum was in place when Rex Ryan was hired as head coach; the latter has publicly campaigned to return to that position, but Costello notes there have been no signs the organization reciprocates that desire.
Spielman worked his way to the title of general manager of the Dolphins for the 2004 season before ultimately having an extended tenure in that role with the Vikings. He took charge of the franchise in 2012 and remained in place until he was fired following the 2021 campaign. Since then, the 61-year-old has had a number of media-related roles. He also assisted the Commanders in their general manager search this past offseason.
Johnson fired Saleh after Week 5 in the hopes a change on the sidelines would spark a turnaround. Instead, the Jets are 1-5 under Jeff Ulbrich. Those continued struggles led to the decision to move on from Douglas early rather than waiting for his contract to expire at the end of the campaign. Interviews with executives employed by other teams cannot take place at this point, but those unaffiliated with the Jets’ competitors are free to speak with Johnson and Co. at any time.
On that note, Jones lists Dawn Aponte as a name to watch. A former Jets exec – who also worked under Tannenbaum in Miami – she currently serves as the NFL’s chief administrator of football operations. Aponte interviewed for the Chargers’ GM gig this past winter and was mentioned as a candidate for a high-ranking position in the Commanders’ front office.
It will be interesting to see if Aponte is interviewed by the Jets in the near future as the team sorts out its front office and coaching targets. However that process unfolds, Tannenbaum and Spielman will play an important role along the way.
I guess they both know what not to look for in a GM
Both had their faults, but both were also held in high regard at one time. Spielman helped Washington land Peters, so maybe they’re better at identifying people who could do it successfully than doing it themselves. Kind of like most coaches who can’t actually play at a high level.
Good point. Kind of like the old saying “those who can’t do, teach”
I think you’re right about that. They did decent enough jobs to know the kind of traits a good GM might have; now can they find someone who is able to manage all those traits effectively? Spielman helped Washington, now hopefully he helps the Jets.
Like a career .200 hitter becoming a hitting coach
Instead of asking Spielman to help you find a GM why don’t you just say Hey you want the job? Probably be the best guy for the job anyway.
Unclemike- You might be right about that. Spielman kept the Vikings relevant for years; the Jets would love to even just get back to relevancy.
Probably why he’s offering to help lol, the nicest way to avoid consideration.
And those who cant teach, teach gym.
I think Spielman is a great person to bring in for this process. He helped DC last offseason in what appears to have been a solid search, and he worked for the Vikings, who could teach the Jets a lot about how to run an organization overall (their NFLPA report cards are consistently among the best across the board).
As for Tannenbaum… I’m less sure.
Yeah, at least Spielman does have some record of success. People can trash talk the Vikings or him if they like, but he had some great seasons there and found a lot of good players as well. It’s not like he was a total failure.
Tannenbaum has…less of that history. A couple good years, sure, but…definitely less.
Insert ‘Clown World’ emoji here.
Marvin Lewis would be a good head coach. Not spectacular, not flashy, competent and steady. He’s rested up and ready to jump back in.
He’s also 66. You want a stop gap or someone who can be there for a bit?
Andy Reid-66
John Harbough-61
Mike McCarthy, Sean Payton, Jim Harbough -60
So you’re saying 66 is to old? I’d take him over these supposed wunderkinds like Zac Taylor, Mike McDonald, Jerrod Mayo. It’s hard to coach someone, much less discipline a player you’re almost the same age as. Plus Marvin has a decent track record.
Hiring a 66-year old is different than retaining a 66-year old who’s won the last two Super Bowls and been at his post for over a decade. It’s also different than hiring or retaining of the most successful football coaches in recent memory who’s half a decade younger. Don’t get me wrong, I agree with you that Lewis did great work in Cincinnati and deserves more recognition (and would have been a better hire than several since then), but no one wants to start program building or sell their fan base with a 66-year old who hasn’t been a head coach or an NFL coordinator since 2018. And MacDonald seems to be doing just fine as a rookie head coach.
Mike Macdonald is already a better coach than Marvin Lewis ever was.
Go back under your bridge you TROLL.
I think the 33rd team use to go by another name…Woody is the one in the middle link to images.fanpop.com
The question is who actually wants to join this circus? It’s going to have to have to be re-treads who may not get second looks elsewhere. Maybe Stefanski if he’s fired. Maybe Kingsbury. I don’t think Vrabel would be desperate enough.
Likely will be an underwhelming choice, and Woody has no one to blame but himself.
retreads*
After an exhaustive search, I recommend me as GM.
– Tannenbaum
Ive ran the numbers, and your next GM should be me!
-Spielman
I spilled coffee on my shirt!
– Buddy Nix
Im a good coach!
– Rex Ryan
Id like to be considered.
– Aaron Rodgers
(Deep voice) Id also like to be considered.
– Joe Douglas in a mustache
Hahahahaha!
– Robert Salah
Lol! The Jets!
– Everyone else
Co-GMs! We are gonna be best friends!
-Tannebaum and Spielman
Ive been basically a GM for awhile now. Ive got experience!
-Aaron Rodgers
Oh, now Ive got coffee on my pants!
– Buddy Nix
Im a good GM!
– Belichek
cringe
Its fine.
Im having a little fun.
Feel free to block me – ill survive.
lmao why would i care enough to block you
I know right? You care enough to respond though.
I respect you just, so so much and your opinion means everything to me. Really. I truly mean it. You just seem like a neat guy. Im crushed.
Somehow, Ill get by though.
Is it not a conflict of interest to interview current NFL V.P.s for individual team positions? I don’t know what Aponte’s job is, exactly, but if she has any responsibility over the teams that she’s interviewing with, isn’t that a conflict of interest?
I don’t think so. For one thing, what’s she going to do, give the Jets an unfair advantage in a dead season? But we’ve seen this in baseball plenty of times. People like Theo Epstein, Kim Ng, or Sandy Alderson cool their heels between team jobs with the league office. League offices need people who have experience on the team side. Beneath the surface of the names we all know, there’s a lot of traffic between different front offices and with the league office.
If they did anything along those lines? Would we know, though? Again, I’m not sure what Aponte’s responsibilities are. If she’s not involved in any sort of regulatory or dispensing decisions for teams, it wouldn’t be that concerning. You would wonder, though, if the league be hit if people like her, who could leave for a team opportunity, come and go frequently at supervisory positions.
I was curious myself as to what she did, so I found this: In her current role, she is responsible for driving Football Operations objectives, facilitating communication and management of the day-to-day operations and assisting in building relationships with all levels — team owners, presidents and executives.
They cited one example, during the pandemic, where she was basically the pointwoman coordinating things between the Football Operations team and a lot of other internal and external groups of the league. It’s a bit vague, but to me it sounds like it’d be hard for her to give anyone any type of advantage in that role. She sounds more like a representative for the league when dealing with other groups.
Thanks, Outlaw. That definitely helps.
Also, no idea what was up when I wrote that reply. Just re-read it, and sheesh, it’s barely in English.
This isn’t a satire piece? Like this isn’t an “onion” headline?
The Jets will remain on the same Jets path by bringing in that sleezy Tannenbaum to help pick the most important people in the franchise besides the players
Cant remember an owner single handedly trashing an entire season like this, ever
Vrabel is the guy. Not a rah rah guy but tough and will hold players accountable. He’s experienced and has a good background. No more Rex Ryan’s. Need a serious but vibrant guy. Vrabel is that type.