Why did the Jets fire Joe Douglas? New York ousts GM due to poor record, Aaron Rodgers’ struggles | Sporting News Australia

The Jets are officially cleaning house.

New York fired general manager Joe Douglas on Thursday, SNY’s Connor Hughes first reported, 11 games into a tumultuous season that has fallen well short of expectations.

The Jets are 3-8 despite entering the year with legitimate playoff hopes. Coach Robert Saleh was already fired in October after a 1-4 start, and nothing — from the coaching change, to an offensive play-caller swap, to a trade for Davante Adams — has changed the franchise’s luck. 

Douglas’ contract was set to expire after the season, but the Jets chose to move on immediately as their season spirals further out of control. Phil Savage was named the team’s interim GM. 

pic.twitter.com/8597Kq3XGM

— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 19, 2024

Here’s what you need to know about the Jets’ decision to fire Douglas.

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Why did the Jets fire Joe Douglas?

Douglas was already considered “unlikely to return” in 2025, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, so the Jets decided to make the move now rather than wait until the end of the season in January.

The decision was made now so the Jets could start their general manager search “immediately,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported, adding that New York “didn’t want to start the process with Douglas still having the GM title.”

New York made numerous aggressive moves over the last two years, starting with the acquisition of Aaron Rodgers in 2023, but Douglas’ track record was a mixed bag.

While his 2022 draft class including Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall has been widely praised, Douglas botched the decision to bring in Haason Reddick this past offseason as a replacement for Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers. Reddick held out for the first seven weeks of the season, and the Jets’ defense has taken a major step back after a strong 2023.

A poor offensive line and lack of a viable No. 2 quarterback also threw the Jets’ 2023 season off the rails after Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles in Week 1. The backup quarterback issue stemmed from what was Douglas’ biggest blunder as GM: The selection of Zach Wilson in 2021, which set the franchise back. A year earlier, Douglas used his first draft pick on OT Mekhi Becton, who left the team after the 2023 season.

Ultimately, the Jets’ record was not a mixed bag. New York went 30-64 under Douglas, and owner Woody Johnson reached a breaking point after the Jets dropped to 3-8 in a season that came with playoff expectations.

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Joe Douglas biggest moves

Douglas was hired by the Jets in June 2019, so he joined the organization after the selection of Sam Darnold and failed signing of Le’Veon Bell. Here were some of New York’s most notable moves during his tenure, not including draft picks:

• Trade of Jamal Adams to Seahawks (2020)
• Release of Le’Veon Bell (2020)
• Hiring of Robert Saleh (2021)
• Signing of Corey Davis (2021)
• Signing of Carl Lawson (2021)
• Signing of D.J. Reed (2022)
• Signing of Allen Lazard (2023)
• Trade for Aaron Rodgers (2023)
• Extension of Quinnen Williams (2023)
• Signing of Tyron Smith (2024)
• Trade for Haason Reddick (2024)
• Trade for Davante Adams (2024)

See below for a complete look at Douglas’ top draft picks as the Jets’ general manager.

Joe Douglas draft picks

Here is each Day 1 and 2 selection made by Douglas over his five drafts as GM of the Jets:

Douglas’ first two drafts were borderline disastrous, as the Jets got very little value out of their 2020 class and whiffed on Wilson in 2021.

The 2022 draft helped keep Douglas keep his job as long as he did. Gardner is an All-Pro, rough 2024 season aside, while Wilson is a franchise wide receiver and both Johnson and Hall have turned into major pieces for the Jets. 

The jury is largely still out on Douglas’ final two drafts — Tippman is off to a fine start, while McDonald has shown some flashes this season — but the wins weren’t there for the Jets, and Douglas’ track record wasn’t sound enough to justify a seventh season in New York.