Joe Douglas just followed the exact blueprint of every failed Jets hire

Joe Douglas’ run as general manager of the New York Jets came to an end last November, marking the conclusion of a nearly six-year tenure that produced just 30 wins and plenty of disappointment.

While Douglas inherited a mess and made some positive strides, including the team's historic 2022 draft class, his inability to solve the quarterback position or build a consistent contender ultimately led to his dismissal.

Now, less than a year later, Douglas is heading back to familiar territory. As first reported by Eagles insider Jeff McLane, the Philadelphia Eagles have hired Douglas in a “senior scouting role,” reuniting him with the organization he helped build into a Super Bowl champion under Howie Roseman.

This move comes just weeks after Douglas made headlines for his appearance at an NFL Draft media event for Fox Sports Radio. Now, Douglas is once again leaning on his old connections to land on his feet.

In doing so, Douglas has followed a now-familiar pattern for recently fired Jets coaches/executives. Like Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich before him, he’s returned to his previous employer after a failed stint in New York.

Joe Douglas is following a familiar post-NY Jets trend

Saleh, who was fired as head coach just six weeks into the 2024 season, landed on his feet with the San Francisco 49ers, the organization where he first made his name as a defensive coordinator.

Similarly, Ulbrich returned to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason to take over as their new defensive coordinator, years after previously serving as their linebackers coach and eventually their DC. It seems when Jets stints go sour, the fallback plan is often a return to the past.

For Douglas, that past includes his time with the Eagles, a franchise he helped shape into a Super Bowl contender. But no amount of goodwill in Philadelphia can fully mask how poorly his Jets tenure played out.

In nearly six full seasons as general manager, Douglas posted a 30-64 record, a worse mark than both John Idzik and Mike Maccagnan, two of the most notoriously unsuccessful GMs in team history.

Despite this, Douglas was given a longer leash than both of them combined. He presided over the organization through nearly six full losing seasons, two head coaching hires, and several high-profile quarterback failures.

And from a historical lens, Douglas doesn’t fare much better. His .319 win percentage ranks 105th out of 107 managing football executives since 1977 to spend at least five years with a single team.

While his time in New York will largely be remembered as a disappointment, the Eagles clearly still value Douglas' scouting background. As for the Jets, they've entrusted new GM Darren Mougey with being the guy to rebuild a franchise that Douglas ultimately couldn’t fix.

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