Ex Jets GM Headlines Unique Search for Joe Douglas' Replacement

No, he isn’t taking over for Joe Douglas’ post and filling out the card come draft night. But in conjunction with former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, he’ll be headlining New York’s search for Douglas’ and Robert Saleh’s replacements.

Adam Schefter reported on Monday that The 33rd Team – a football media website – will be joining owner Woody Johnson to help identify the Jets’ next general manager and head coach. The two former front office members are among the staff members who have transitioned from the professional ranks to the media at the ascending website.

The announcement comes as a bit of a surprise. Teams generally rely on search firms for these processes, and while not always the best use of resources, it has become common practice. Relying on a media company, who unequivocally gets a credibility boost from New York, stands to benefit regardless of how things work out.

Even so, there’s reason to believe Tannenbaum and Spielman could find the right pieces for the Jets to be successful. With experience around the league and as a general manager (in Tannenbaum’s case, for Johnson), a well-informed decision is certainly possible.

Tannenbaum saw success with New York in his time as general manager, forging three playoff appearances and the two AFC Championship Games that mark the high point for millions of Jets fans. He went 57-55 in his post before spending four seasons as the executive vice president of football operations.

Minnesota, meanwhile, went 132-123 under Spielman’s purview, reaching the playoffs six times in 16 years.

Tannenbaum is largely credited with hiring former head coaches Eric Mangini, Rex Ryan, and Adam Gase – the last of which was with Miami. Each of those hires eventually made the playoffs, although Ryan and Gase would go on to experience rather disastrous downfalls later in their careers.

With plenty of names to choose from and the fate of the Jets future in their hands, Tannenbaum and Spielman don’t have an easy job ahead of them. But making the right call could give them an unforeseen boost to their football legacies and put the Jets back on the map in the process.