Jets HC Adam Gase talks front office shake-up

The New York Jets fired general manager Mike Maccagnan recently, putting new head coach Adam Gase in the driver’s seat of the team’s future.

Gase was fired after the 2018 season by the division-rival Miami Dolphins, but still managed to land on his feet with the Jets, who fired their own coach after last season, Todd Bowles. Just a few short months later, Gase not only has control of the coaching staff, but he’s been named the team’s interim GM until a new one is hired.

He’s wasted little time making moves, trading former first-round pick Darron Lee to the Kansas City Chiefs for a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. With the addition of big-ticket free agent linebacker C.J. Mosley, the underachieving Lee had been the target of many trade rumors throughout the offseason. With Maccangan out of the way, Gase finally pulled the trigger.

How much control does Gase expect to have moving forward?

“I will coach the football team. That’s what I'm going to do. Nothing is changing in that structure."

— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 20, 2019

“Whoever is getting hired is going to have the same role — control of the roster, control of the 53,” Gase told the media Monday. “I will coach the football team. That’s what I’m going to do. Nothing is changing in that structure.”

Gase understands the NFL can be a ruthless business, something he found out first-hand mere months ago:

“He’s the owner. In this business, [stuff] like that happens all the time,” Gase said regarding Maccagnan’s firing, and the decision made by team Chairman/CEO Christopher Johnson. “It happened to me last year. That’s what it is. I work for him. We’re aligned as the head coach and the GM both report to the owner. That’s the way it is.”

The Jets added plenty of playmakers this offseason, from top free agents like Mosley and running back Le’Veon Bell, to blue-chip rookies like No. 3 overall pick Quinnen Williams. With a franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold already in place, and young leaders on defense like safety Jamal Adams and defensive lineman Leonard Williams, Gase has a chance to pilot a quick turnaround for the Jets.