The move came six weeks after Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start, setting the stage for an offseason reset that will likely affect quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Phil Savage, the Jets’ senior football advisor, was named the team’s interim general manager. Savage is a former general manager of the Cleveland Browns (2005-08).
“Today I informed Joe Douglas that he will no longer serve as General Manager of the New York Jets. I want to thank Joe for his commitment to the Jets over the past six years and wish him and his family the best in the future.” Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson added that the Jets “will begin the process to identify a new General Manager immediately.” He was not available to journalists.
The Jets, who entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations, fell to 3-8 after blowing a late lead Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Johnson, who recently called this Jets roster the best he’s had in 25 years as owner, was furious after the game, sources said.
Douglas’ departure isn’t a surprise — the team was 30-64 under his direction, with no winning seasons or playoff appearances — but the timing is curious, considering there are still six games left. Douglas, who signed a six-year contract in June 2019, was not under contract for the 2025 season. In fact, his contract would have expired in six months, creating uncertainty throughout the season.
Johnson thought earlier was better because he decided Douglas’ fate after Sunday’s game and wanted to start the general manager search process as quickly as possible, sources said. He apparently felt it would have been awkward to conduct the search with an outgoing general manager still in the building.
Douglas’s fate was likely sealed when he was not included in the decision to fire Saleh on October 8. At the time, Johnson made it very clear that it was his decision, leaving his general manager in a difficult position.
Some in the organization were surprised that Johnson did not fire Douglas and Saleh at the same time, sources said. It’s possible Johnson kept Douglas long enough to handle some unfinished business: Haason Reddick’s resistance and the trade deadline (Nov. 5). The Jets ended up trading wide receiver Davante Adams (Oct. 15) and resolving the holdout (Oct. 22), with Johnson taking on a key role in both.
Douglas had become disenchanted in recent weeks, sources said, hoping that a miraculous change could turn things around. The opposite has happened; The Jets have lost seven of their last eight games in what was supposed to be a winnable season now with Rodgers, whose future is cloudy. A source said he would be “surprised” if Johnson brought Rodgers back in 2025.
Rodgers, 40, mired in one of his worst statistical seasons, has a contract for next season ($23.5 million), but none of his salary is guaranteed.
Douglas arrived with an excellent reputation as a talent evaluator. He built a roster with young stars like wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner, but failed badly by selecting quarterback Zach Wilson with the second pick in 2021 after deciding to move on from Sam Darnold and trade him to the Carolina Panthers. .
Douglas attempted a quick fix at quarterback, acquiring Rodgers in April 2023, but the Jets hit a rough patch when the future Hall of Famer tore his Achilles tendon on the fourth play of the 2023 season. his bet on Rodgers, surrounding him with aging stars on short-term deals, namely offensive tackle Tyron Smith, wide receiver Mike Williams and running back Reddick, all of whom arrived via trade. None of them have worked. Williams was recently traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While Douglas helped build a talented defense, which has regressed this season, he failed to solidify the offensive line and quarterback positions. As of the start of 2019, the team’s quarterbacks rank last in the NFL in total QBR (36), completion rate (59.6%) and yards per attempt (6.3), according to ESPN Research.
The Jets will look to hire a general manager and coach for the first time since 2015, when they ended up with Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles, respectively. Bowles was fired after the 2018 season; Maccagnan was fired a few months later after losing a power struggle with newly hired coach Adam Gase. Maccagnan was replaced by Douglas.
Johnson’s role for 2025 remains unclear. There is speculation that he could be appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to serve again as ambassador to the United Kingdom, a position he held from 2017 to 2021. If that happens, Johnson’s younger brother Christopher would once again take over the day-to-day duties. Daily control of the equipment.
Source : ESPN
