The Jets made their head coaching hire earlier this week, and their general manager vacancy is now set to be filled. After Lance Newmark appeared to be the top target, though, the team has moved in another direction. 
Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports Broncos assistant GM Darren Mougey will be hired by the Jets. He was among the staffers who lined up a second interview for this week, so it comes as little surprise he is set to get the nod. Still, after Newmark looked to have a deal all-but in place on Tuesday, this is a notable pivot on New York’s part.
The Jets were open to bringing in a head coach or a general manager first during the 2025 cycle, and Aaron Glenn wound up being the initial hire in the team’s case. The former Lions defensive coordinator has a history with New York as a player, and Newmark represented a familiar face with Glenn given their time spent together in Detroit. A natural fit was in place, but the Jets opted to conduct follow-up interviews with both Mougey and Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown before making a final decision.
Mougey’s meeting took place yesterday, and Troy Renck of the Denver Post notes he returned to the Broncos’ facility to await word on whether or not he received the Jets’ GM job. No subsequent reports have emerged at this point confirming Mougey has won out, but provided the team ultimately announces this news he will be set to undertake his first general manager role. The 39-year-old has been with the Broncos throughout his front office career, so this will double as his first posting with any other organization.
Mougey quickly transitioned from his playing career to the scouting world as an intern with the Broncos in 2012. By 2020, he had reached the level of assistant college scouting director while continuing to rise through the ranks. Mougey took over as director of player personnel for 2021, and the following year he was promoted to assistant GM. After working under both John Elway and George Paton, he will now lead a staff of his own.
New York conducted a wide-ranging search for both the head coach and general manager positions, and in a matter of days both vacancies have now been filled. The quarterback position will remain a talking point until clarity emerges on the Aaron Rodgers front, and a number of other key priories – including potential extensions for cornerback Sauce Gardner and wideout Garrett Wilson – are in place. How Mougey and Glenn address them will be key in shaping the organization’s direction moving forward. Paton and the Broncos, meanwhile, will now have a notable front office vacancy to fill.
Via PFR’s GM search tracker, here is a final look at how the Jets’ process played out:
- Mike Borgonzi, assistant general manager (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8; hired by Titans
- Trey Brown, senior personnel executive (Bengals): Conducted second interview 1/23
- Thomas Dimitroff, former general manager (Falcons): Interviewed 12/16
- Ray Farmer, senior personnel executive (Rams): Interviewed 1/9
- Brian Gaine, assistant general manager (Bills): Interviewed 1/14
- Mike Greenberg, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/10
- Ryan Grigson, senior vice president of player personnel (Vikings): Interviewed 1/11
- Alec Halaby, assistant general manager (Eagles): Interviewed 1/8
- Darren Mougey, assistant general manager (Broncos): To be hired
- Jim Nagy, Senior Bowl director: Interviewed 12/19
- Lance Newmark, assistant general manager (Commanders): Conducted second interview 1/21; hire expected; still a candidate
- Louis Riddick, former director of pro personnel (Eagles): Interviewed 1/2
- Jon Robinson, former general manager (Titans): Interviewed 12/17
- Chris Spielman, special assistant to president/CEO (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of player personnel (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
Hard to know much from the outside about a guy who’s been with one organization his whole post-playing career and has never been GM. The Broncos have at least drafted a lot of good players in his time there. How he takes on the GM role in another organization is a total unknown. Here’s hoping for the best.
I thought only the Bears hired management backwards. Glad to see another team do it, Oh wait it’s the Jets. Never mind.
Ah yes, only dysfunctional franchises hire their coach before their GM. Moribund organizations like the Bills. This isn’t baseball. Teams don’t need to go GM first.
But it helps. The GM is the architect and needs to feel comfortable and confident with the person who is going to execute that work and vision.
The idea that the vision belongs to the GM and the coach is just there to execute is a baseball mentality. Sure, there are some NFL teams where the front office is much more in control than the head coach (Philly is the best example), but there are plenty where the coach is, and in general they’re just more on even footing. Having a coach and GM who are both good at their jobs and can work together is the ideal. Which order you hire them in (especially when it’s a matter of days difference) isn’t a one size fits all thing.
Hiring a coach before the GM has worked swimmingly for the Bears.
It’s worked out great for the Bills. The Chargers are looking good. Maybe just maybe that one factor isn’t the end all be all.
Its more important to have the HC and GM be on the same page than the order in which one came first. Jets have openly stated their aim was to get a HC and have them pick a GM or vice versa
Really don’t understand this thought process. Why would you not want the guy who actually knows the type of players who fit in his locker room and schemes to have some say about the person who is going to be bringing said players in?
They also hired them in extremely close succession. They effectively brought them in together, Elwgivh is what a lot of successful teams have done.
Great Googly Mougey!
Chicago Bears- NFL trendsetters.
Dont know much about this guy, any Broncos fan wanna weigh in? 🙂
So the jets announce they are probably keeping Rodgers. Then they hire Aaron Glenn as coach. Now they are going to hire a GM. Never change jets. Never change
Were they not supposed to hire a coach or GM? Are they just supposed to get rid of their QB with no real alternative? Never change snarky commenter. Never change