Breaking News: Jets Fire GM Douglas

The dumpster fire continues for Gang Green.

The New York Jets will not take the usual step and wait until after the season for a complete overhaul.

The Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Just six weeks after owner Woody Johnson ousted head coach Robert Saleh after a Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London, with a 2-3 record, Douglas joins him on the unemployment line.

“Today, I informed Joe Douglas he will no longer serve as the General Manager of the New York Jets. I want to thank Joe for his commitment to the Jets over the last six years and wish him and his family the best moving forward,” Johnson said in a statement.

Johnson added that the Jets “will begin the process to identify a new General Manager immediately.”

Douglas was in the final year of his deal with the organization and, considering the shaking state of the team and their 3-8 record, he was not expected to resume his duties in the ‘Big Apple’ in 2025. The Jets made the unique decision that a parting of ways was not worth waiting a month and a half for.

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The Jets brought Douglas on board from the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was vice president of player personnel, in 2019. In five-plus seasons under his leadership, New York posted an unacceptable 30-64 record, no winning seasons and never got close to the playoffs. His season high for wins was seven, and a .438-win percentage in Year 1 would be the highlight of his tenure.

Douglas has built a roster with young stars such as wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner, but he had a huge miss at the most important position in all of sports, by drafting quarterback Zach Wilson with the second pick in 2021 out of BYU, after deciding to move on from Sam Darnold and trading him to the Carolina Panthers.

Douglas tried to put a bandage with a quick fix at quarterback, trading for future first-ballot Hall of Famer and four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers in April 2023, but Rodgers has dramatically failed to live up to expectations this season after missing all but four snaps last year with a torn Achille which he suffered against the Buffalo Bills.

Credit Douglas for helping build a once-dominant defense, including drafting Quinnen Williams with his first selection in New York. His famed 2022 class included Rookies of the Year in 2022 in cornerback Gardner and wide receiver Wilson, to pair with running back Breece Hall and Jermaine Johnson.

However, Douglas’ nail in the coffin was never solving the quarterback riddle. Zach Wilson, flamed out. Gang Green never had a suitable backup option. And the much-anticipated move to bring in Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers has been a complete and utter disaster.

Upon firing Saleh last month, Johnson said part of his reasoning was that Gang Green had the most talented team of his ownership, a team Douglas built. That still could not save the GM, or even give him until the holidays were over.

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