New York Jets Fire General Manager Amid Disastrous Season: Report

The Jets fired GM Joe Douglas amid a disastrous 2024 season marred by turmoil, impulsive moves, and unmet expectations, shifting blame away from systemic issues.

Feb 28, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas speaks at a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The New York Jets 2024 season, which began with immense promise and expectations, continues its downward spiral with the firing of general manager Joe Douglas, as reported by SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes.

This decision marks another high-profile shakeup in a campaign defined by turmoil, disarray, and finger-pointing.

While the move may appear to be an attempt to course-correct amid a disastrous season, it is more likely an effort by Jets ownership to shift blame away from themselves and distract from the broader systemic issues plaguing the franchise.

The #Jets fired Joe Douglas, per sources

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) November 19, 2024

Joe Douglas' tenure as the Jets' general manager began in 2019 and was marked by triumphs and challenges. He orchestrated key moves to turn the Jets into legitimate contenders, highlighted by the high-profile acquisition of four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Douglas also succeeded in the draft, selecting standout defensive players like Sauce Gardner and Will McDonald, providing glimpses of promise amid the team's struggles. Despite these efforts, the Jets' 30-64 record during his tenure exemplified the persistent inconsistency and challenges.

This season was meant to culminate a years-long rebuild—a defining moment for the franchise to establish itself as a genuine contender. Instead, it has become a cautionary tale of mismanagement, unmet expectations, and desperation.

The firing of head coach Robert Saleh five games into the season was the first significant sign of the team's unraveling. Saleh, a defensive-minded leader who had earned respect for his work in reshaping the Jets' defensive identity, was jettisoned in what many saw as a panic move by ownership.

His departure, followed by interim coach Jeff Ulbrich’s struggles, highlighted how quick fixes and impulsive decisions only compounded the team’s issues. Defensive lapses and an inability to prevent explosive plays have since plagued the Jets, with Ulbrich's tenure marked by disarray in coverage and costly breakdowns.

Offensively, the situation has been the same. Nathaniel Hackett, brought in to optimize Rodgers' potential, was demoted in another desperate move that failed to yield results. While Rodgers himself has been far from the elite standard expected, scapegoating the star quarterback for the team’s 3-8 record and dismal 1% playoff chance misses the mark.

The revolving door of coaching changes and strategic mishaps has limited any opportunity for consistency, with the blame shifting conveniently away from the ownership’s flawed decisions.

Douglas' firing fits a familiar pattern of accountability evasion. Ownership's all-in push has fallen apart spectacularly, and instead of reckoning with their role in this collapse, they continue to offer up scapegoats.

The Jets’ season, intended to be a story of triumph, now stands as a testament to misguided ambition and the dangers of leadership driven by desperation.