Jets fireplace GM Joe Douglas amid woeful season, tab Savage interim

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets’ disappointing season claimed one other casualty Tuesday, as proprietor Woody Johnson fired basic supervisor Joe Douglas after five-plus seasons.

The transfer got here six weeks after Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 begin, setting the stage for an offseason reboot that doubtless will have an effect on quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Phil Savage, a senior soccer adviser for the Jets, was named the workforce’s interim basic supervisor. Savage is a former GM of the Cleveland Browns (2005-08).

“Right now, I knowledgeable Joe Douglas he’ll not function the Normal Supervisor of the New York Jets. I need to thank Joe for his dedication to the Jets during the last six years and need him and his household one of the best transferring ahead,” Johnson mentioned in a press release.

Johnson added that the Jets “will start the method to establish a brand new Normal Supervisor instantly.” He wasn’t made obtainable to reporters.

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The Jets, who started the season with Tremendous Bowl aspirations, dropped to 3-8 after blowing a late lead Sunday in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts. Johnson, who lately known as this Jets roster one of the best he has had in 25 years of possession, was fuming after the sport, sources mentioned.

Douglas’ ouster is no surprise — the workforce was 30-64 underneath his stewardship, with no profitable seasons and no playoff appearances — however the timing is curious, contemplating there are nonetheless six video games remaining. Douglas, who signed a six-year contract in June 2019, did not have a contract for the 2025 season. In truth, his deal would have expired in six months, which created seasonlong uncertainty.

Johnson figured sooner was higher than later as a result of he determined Douglas’ destiny after Sunday’s sport and needed to start out the method of a GM search as shortly as attainable, sources mentioned. He apparently felt it might’ve been awkward to conduct the search with a lame-duck GM nonetheless within the constructing.

Douglas’ destiny was doubtless sealed when he wasn’t included within the resolution to fireside Saleh on Oct. 8. On the time, Johnson made it abundantly clear that it was his name, leaving his GM in a troublesome place.

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Some within the group had been shocked that Johnson did not fireplace Douglas and Saleh on the identical time, sources mentioned. It is attainable that Johnson retained Douglas lengthy sufficient to deal with some unfinished enterprise — the Haason Reddick holdout and the buying and selling deadline (Nov. 5). The Jets wound up buying and selling for vast receiver Davante Adams (Oct. 15) and resolving the holdout (Oct. 22), with Johnson taking a key function in each.

Douglas had change into disenchanted in current weeks, sources mentioned, hoping a miracle turnaround would possibly change issues. The alternative has occurred; the Jets have dropped seven of their previous eight video games in what was alleged to be a win-now season underneath Rodgers, whose future is cloudy. One supply mentioned he’d be “shocked” if Johnson brings Rodgers again in 2025.

Rodgers, 40, mired in one in all his worst statistical seasons, is underneath contract for subsequent season ($23.5 million cap cost), however none of his wage is assured.

Douglas arrived with a sterling fame as a expertise evaluator. He constructed a roster with younger stars corresponding to vast receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner, however he had an enormous miss by drafting quarterback Zach Wilson with the second choose in 2021 after deciding to maneuver on from Sam Darnold and buying and selling him to the Carolina Panthers.

Douglas tried a fast repair at quarterback, buying and selling for Rodgers in April 2023, however the Jets caught a nasty break when the longer term Corridor of Famer tore his Achilles on the fourth snap of the 2023 season. He doubled down on Rodgers, surrounding him with growing old stars on short-term offers — particularly offensive sort out Tyron Smith, vast receiver Mike Williams and edge rusher Reddick, who got here through commerce. None of them have labored out. Williams was traded lately to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Whereas Douglas helped construct a proficient protection, which has regressed this season, he did not solidify the offensive line and quarterback positions. For the reason that begin of 2019, the workforce’s quarterbacks rank final within the NFL in Complete QBR (36), completion charge (59.6%) and yards per try (6.3), in response to ESPN Analysis.

The Jets will likely be trying to rent a GM and coach for the primary time since 2015, once they wound up with Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles, respectively. Bowles was fired after the 2018 season; Maccagnan was fired a number of months later after shedding an influence battle with newly employed coach Adam Gase. Maccagnan was changed by Douglas.

Johnson’s function for 2025 stays unclear. There’s hypothesis that he might be appointed by president-elect Donald Trump to serve once more because the ambassador to the UK, a put up he held from 2017 to 2021. If that occurs, Johnson’s youthful brother, Christopher, would once more assume day-to-day management of the workforce.