The New York Jets made a significant change on Tuesday, announcing the firing of general manager Joe Douglas. This decision follows a disappointing season, with the Jets currently sitting at 3-8. The firing of Douglas comes just six weeks after head coach Robert Saleh was also let go. Despite these moves, the Jets continued to struggle, losing their sixth game in seven attempts against the Indianapolis Colts.
The firing of Joe Douglas marks the second significant front-office change orchestrated by team owner Woody Johnson and team president Hymie Elhai this season. The first came on October 8 when they dismissed head coach Robert Saleh after the team started the season 2-3. Since then, the Jets have gone 1-5, which contributed to Douglas not surviving his turn on the chopping block.
Douglas' firing comes as a bit of a surprise, especially considering Johnson's statement just six weeks earlier. On the day Saleh was let go, Johnson praised Douglas for assembling "one of the most talented teams that has ever been assembled by the New York Jets." Now, just a short time later, Douglas is out of a job.
Douglas' Tenure and Missed Opportunities
However, his tenure with the Jets was marked by disappointment, with a 30-64 record over five-plus seasons. The Jets' struggles have extended the franchise’s playoff drought to a likely 15 years, with no team since 1990 overcoming such a poor start to make the playoffs.
Under Douglas, the Jets made some high-profile acquisitions, including defensive end Haason Reddick and veteran receiver Mike Williams. However, these moves failed to produce the desired results, and the team’s performance continued to decline. One of Douglas’ biggest mistakes was drafting quarterback Zach Wilson second overall in 2021, a decision that did not pan out as expected. Additionally, offensive tackle Mekhi Becton, selected in the first round in 2020, also became a significant miss for the team.
While Douglas did secure some notable picks, including cornerback Sauce Gardner and running back Breece Hall, these successes were overshadowed by the team's overall lack of progress on the field. With the Jets finishing under .500 during his time as GM, they are now set to begin a search for both a new head coach and general manager in the offseason, something the franchise has not done since 2015.
Phil Savage to Serve as Interim GM
Phil Savage will step in as the interim general manager while the search for a permanent replacement is underway. The Jets are looking for a fresh direction as they aim to turn their fortunes around after another disappointing season.
“Today, I informed Joe Douglas he will no longer serve as the general manager of the New York Jets. I want to thank Joe for his commitment to the Jets over the last six years and wish him and his family the best moving forward," a statement from Johnson read.
