When the New York Jets announced the firing of now-former general manager Mike Maccagnan a few weeks ago, many were left scratching their heads (although for some that’s pretty much par for the Jets’ course.) But the move felt especially knee-jerk since the Jets allowed Maccagnan to preside over free agency and the draft. Nonetheless, the Jets have found their replacement in Joe Douglas.
Douglas comes to New York from the Philadelphia Eagles, where he held the position of vice president of player personnel. A team that has obviously experienced some recent success.
As part of the move to get rid of Maccagnan, the Jets also fired those around him. Douglas will now be tasked to replace those jobs. Interestingly, it’s been reported the ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay could be offered one of those jobs:
McShay in the mix. pic.twitter.com/WU2L0OsqMC
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) June 8, 2019
Undoubtedly, the move to hire Douglas was – at least in part – made with the goal of getting all the management-types (from head coach Adam Gase up to ownership) on the same page. The connection to Gase, who has been interim GM since Maccagnan was let go, is clear: both Gase and Douglas worked for the Chicago Bears in 2015. Reportedly, the two have remained relatively close.
Having management on the same page was apparently a luxury the New York Jets didn’t feel like they had under the old regime. Douglas, 42, hopes to be their remedy.
After graduating from the University of Richmond, where he played football, Joe Douglas worked in player personnel for the Baltimore Ravens from 2000-2014. Then he spent his one season with Gase and the Bears before taking the job with the Eagles, where he’s been since.
