NY Jets continue to follow Lions blueprint with crucial former GM hire

The NY Jets are doing things differently this time around. New head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey aren't following the same missteps that their predecessors in New York did — they're cleaning house and making their own hires.

The Jets have begun the process of ridding themselves of the "old guard" in the front office, some of whom have been with the organization for almost two decades. In their place, Glenn and Mougey are bringing in their own names.

That includes former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, who revealed on his CBS Sports podcast on Thursday that he will be joining the Jets as a senior football advisor.

This comes a day after the Jets parted ways with co-director of player personnel Greg Nejmeh and senior director of football administration David Socie. The team has also hired former Denver Broncos scout Rob Paton as their new co-director of player personnel.

NY Jets continue much-needed front office overhaul with Rick Spielman hire

Spielman is the most important addition the Jets' front office has made thus far. The longtime NFL executive spent a decade as the Vikings' GM from 2012 to 2021 as well as another six years as the team's de facto GM from 2006 to 2011.

Spielman, alongside former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, helped lead the Jets' search for a new head coach and general manager this offseason. Now, he'll stick around as a senior advisor and likely as a liaison between owner Woody Johnson and Glenn and Mougey.

The former Vikings GM is a widely respected figure in NFL circles, bringing decades of experience leading a successful organization. His expertise will be invaluable to a first-time general manager like Mougey.

It's important to remember that Mougey is just 39 years old and has only ever been with one NFL organization, the Broncos. Having a voice like Spielman — as well as Phil Savage, who has been retained in a consultant role — is vital to development as an executive.

It's a similar approach to the one the Detroit Lions took upon the hiring of general manager Brad Holmes in 2021. The Lions brought in former Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey to serve in a very similar role as the team's senior personnel executive.

In fact, Rick's own brother, Chris Spielman, was also hired as the Lions' special assistant to the owner and CEO — essentially a liaison between Holmes and ownership. Rick Spielman will likely fill the responsibilities of both roles with the Jets.

The Jets have adopted the Lions' blueprint for organizational structure, mirroring it in both Glenn's coaching staff and Mougey's front office. After years of sticking with the same behind-the-scenes leadership group across multiple regimes, they’re finally making long-overdue changes.

It might actually be different this time, Jets fans.

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