With four weeks to go in the regular season, the Jets have the NFL’s lone general manager opening -- and their search is set for early takeoff.
Sources say New York will conduct interviews this week with several GM candidates, including former Titans GM Jon Robinson.
It’s just the start of what is expected to be an expansive search to replace Joe Douglas, who was fired Nov. 19 after five-plus seasons as GM. New York also has one of the NFL’s three head-coaching vacancies after firing Robert Saleh on Oct. 8.
While the Jets are doing initial GM interviews first, they aren’t prioritizing that hire over the head coach. NFL rules prohibit interviews with coaches or executives currently employed by teams until after the regular season, and there happen to be some established execs who aren’t under contract.
Robinson, 48, is a former Patriots scout who was part of two Super Bowl championship teams. He then spent three years with the Buccaneers before the Titans hired him as GM in 2016. In parts of seven seasons, Tennessee made the playoffs four times, including appearing in an AFC Championship Game during the 2019 season.
After hiring a first-time GM and head coach the last time around, the Jets are likely to value experience this time. But they are vetting a wide variety of candidates for both positions with assistance from consultants, including their former GM Mike Tannenbaum and former Vikings GM Rick Spielman.
The new Jets GM will inherit a roster that has significant young talent, but also major questions, including on the future of 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Already eliminated from the playoff race at 3-10, the Jets face the Jaguars on Sunday.