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The New York Jets have fired GM Joe Douglas, marking another major shakeup for a team that’s been in freefall this season.
The Jets are sitting at a dismal 3-8 record, despite having future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. It’s been a shocking disappointment for a team that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations.
Douglas’s overall record tells the story – a brutal 30-64 across nearly six seasons. The Jets never won more than seven games in a single year under his leadership.
But here’s the thing: the problems run deeper than just the GM.
When the Jets traded for Rodgers before this season, it was supposed to be their ticket to glory. Instead, it’s turned into a nightmare. Even with his former star receiver Davante Adams now on board, the offense has barely improved from last year’s awful showing.
The numbers are pretty telling. The Jets averaged just 15.8 points per game last season (29th in the NFL). This year? They’re at 18.5 points – still fourth-worst in the league.
“It’s a complete reboot for the Jets,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Twitter, breaking news of Douglas’s firing.
More change in New York: Jets now have fired GM Joe Douglas, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 19, 2024
Last month, head coach Robert Saleh. Now, Douglas.
It’s a complete reboot for the Jets. pic.twitter.com/gmjl5PIQPb
This follows last month’s firing of head coach Robert Saleh, who actually had the team at 2-3 and just a game behind Buffalo early in the season. They’ve gone 1-5 since then.
Sure, Douglas made some big mistakes. The Zach Wilson draft pick was a total bust, which forced them into the desperate move for Rodgers. But he also built what many considered a playoff-caliber roster.
What’s really interesting is who’s still standing after all these changes: Aaron Rodgers.
Five of the Jets’ eight losses have been by just one score – exactly the kind of close games they brought Rodgers in to win. He hasn’t delivered.
The Jets might be cleaning house, but they’re keeping the one piece that’s been at the center of their struggles. If they really want a fresh start, they might need to think about making one more big change.
