NY Jets GM Joe Douglas entering unprecedented season firmly on hot seat

NY Jets general manager Joe Douglas deserves a lot of credit for putting together one of the most talented rosters in franchise history, but until the wins follow, his reputation will not change. And as such, neither will his job security.

Douglas enters his sixth year as general manager of the Jets in 2024 and begins the season with an abysmal career record of 27-56. It's extremely rare to see a GM with that career record somehow make it to his sixth year with the same organization, but that's because Douglas represents a unique situation.

The former Philadelphia Eagles executive signed a six-year contract with the Jets prior to the 2019 season. He enters this season on the final year of his contract — a rarity in the sports world.

That means that perhaps no general manager in the NFL is on a hotter seat than Douglas entering 2024. If the Jets win, he will receive a contract extension. If they don't, his job is as good as gone.

Joe Douglas needs to prove the NY Jets can win in 2024

A side-by-side look at the Jets roster when Douglas took over in 2019 compared to where it stands now in 2024 is all you need to see how much progress has been made during his tenure.

The 2019 Jets were starting the likes of Ryan Griffin, Alex Lewis, Jonotthan Harrison, Neville Hewitt, Nate Hairston, Darryl Roberts, etc. It was a replacement-level roster with few notable standouts.

The 2024 iteration of the Jets has a strong case to be one of the top rosters in the NFL, at least on paper. The Jets have six players who have made either a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team over the last two years on defense, and that's excluding standouts like D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II.

On offense, the Jets have arguably the second-best running back in the NFL in Breece Hall, one of the best young wide receivers in football in Garrett Wilson, a revamped offensive line led by future Hall of Fame left tackle Tyron Smith, and, of course, Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

The vast difference between the Jets' rosters from when Douglas took over to the present day cannot be overstated. That's a credit to Douglas and the work he's put into improving this roster.

Unfortunately, winning the offseason every year isn't going to save his job. Winning games is the only way the Jets can change the narrative and it's the only way Douglas can save his job.

The Jets haven't made the playoffs in 13 years — far and away the longest drought in the NFL. Nearly half of those years have been as part of the Joe Douglas regime.

Douglas is on the hottest of hot seats entering 2024. His future will be determined by how many wins his team manages this season.

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