Jets fire GM Douglas as disastrous season rolls on
The New York Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas, owner Woody Johnson announced Tuesday.
Phil Savage will be the interim general manager, and the team will begin the process of finding Douglas' permanent replacement immediately, Johnson added. Savage was a senior adviser to Douglas before being promoted.
The Jets own a 30-64 record since hiring Douglas in 2019. New York failed to make the playoffs during his tenure and never finished better than third place in the AFC East.
The move comes weeks after the Jets dismissed head coach Robert Saleh, whom Douglas hired in 2021. New York is 1-5 since firing Saleh and sits at 3-8 this season. The Jets also took play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett after moving on from Saleh.
Douglas' first big move as general manager was drafting quarterback Zach Wilson second overall in 2021. Wilson went 12-21 as a starter and never had more than five wins in a season as the Jets' lead signal-caller. Out of 30 quarterbacks who played at least 800 snaps from 2021-23, Wilson ranked 30th in EPA/play and success rate, according to Ben Baldwin's database.
The Jets acquired quarterback Aaron Rodgers for a first-round pick swap that also included a conditional second-round selection in hopes he would take over for Wilson. Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles four snaps into the 2023 season, opening the door for Wilson to return as the starter.
New York traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos in April, and Rodgers retook the reins as the starter. The team hasn't gotten the desired results, ranking 26th in yards and points per game this season. Rodgers also sits 28th in success rate out of 35 qualifying quarterbacks in 2024 and has failed to eclipse 300 passing yards in a single game.
Rodgers is under contract through the 2025 season and has void years attached to his deal until 2029.
Douglas served as Philadelphia Eagles vice president of player personnel under general manager Howie Roseman before taking the Jets job.