4 GM replacements for Joe Douglas after NY Jets fire underperforming executive

The NY Jets were not expected to retain GM Joe Douglas after the nightmarish 2024 season, especially after a 3-8 start already claimed the head coaching career of Robert Saleh. The Jets ripped off the Band-Aid during the bye week instead.

Douglas was fired in the middle of his sixth season in charge of the Jets. Douglas went 30-64 as GM of the Jets, never winning more than seven games in a season during that time and failing to break the Jets' infamous playoff drought, which will not extend to 14 years. Phil Savage has been named interim GM.

Douglas drafted players like Sauce Gardner, Breece Hall, and Garrett Wilson while acquiring players like Davante Adams, John Simpson, and D.J. Reed in free agency. However, his inability to get the quarterback position right and his struggles to build a quality offensive line (prior to 2024) became his downfall.

Picking GMs is always difficult. Douglas spent almost two decades in important positions with well-respected front offices like the Ravens and Eagles, and he still became a failure as a GM. Still, the Jets need to conduct a search to find their next great leader. A good search will lead them to one of these four candidates.

4 GM replacements NY Jets should hire after firing Joe Douglas

4. Trey Brown, senior personnel executive, Cincinnati Bengals

Brown was a scout for the Patriots and Eagles before becoming director of college scouting for the latter in 2016. After spending two years in spring football building two successful teams in the AAF's Birmingham Iron and XFL's St. Louis BattleHawks, Brown became a power broker in Cincinnati in 2022. Brown had a hand in building some of Joe Burrow's best teams.

3. Mike Borgonzi, assistant GM, Kansas City Chiefs

In much the same way Ben Johnson is everyone's favorite head coaching candidate, Borgonzi's proximity to greatness has everyone lusting over the Chiefs' quartermaster. While Patrick Mahomes makes everything work, Borgonzi had a hand in building a deep roster and establishing Kansas City as one of the best drafting teams in the NFL.

2. John Dorsey, senior personnel executive, Detroit Lions

Lions assistant GM and former first-round pick Ray Agnew will get some consideration as well, but Dorsey could be appealing to the Jets due to his past GM experience. Having built a winner in Kansas City and winning a playoff game with the Browns, of all teams, Dorsey's personal touch on roster building might be what the Jets need to finally become a respectable roster.

1.Will McClay, VP of player personnel, Dallas Cowboys

McClay is the de facto GM in Dallas, but he has to operate with Jerry Jones breathing down his next every day. Going to the Jets could be exactly the type of move that reaffirms McClay's status as one of the best drafters in the NFL. Woody Johnson is an overbearing owner, but he's nothing quite like Jones.