Eagles hire mastermind behind Aaron Rodgers trade

The Philadelphia Eagles have hired a front-office executive who was responsible for one of the biggest NFL trades of the last several seasons.

Former New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas is returning to the Eagles in a senior scouting role, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Monday.

Douglas held the title of vice president of player personnel with the Eagles from 2016 to 2019. He then left to become the general manager of the Jets, where he worked until he was fired midway through last season.

Douglas has a close relationship with longtime Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. The two worked together in Philadelphia’s front office when the team won the Super Bowl in 2017.

The 48-year-old Douglas began his NFL scouting career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000, but he is perhaps best known for being the GM who brought Aaron Rodgers to the Jets two years ago. New York traded several draft picks to the Green Bay Packers to acquire Rodgers ahead of the 2023 season.

While the Rodgers trade did not pan out for the Jets, it is impossible to know how it would have gone had Rodgers not torn his Achilles during Week 1 in 2023. The Jets never really got to see what a fully healthy Rodgers could do, even if the former MVP did play a full season for the team last year.

Douglas has extensive front-office experience and a history with the Eagles, so it is no surprise they decided to bring him back.