Jets might take unusual approach to their head coach and GM hirings this offseason

The New York Jets might do things backwards this offseason as the look to rebuild after a disappointing 2024 season, and it may not be the worst idea they have had recently, if they do it the right way.

According to reports from NFL Network insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, it is “not a given” that the Jets will hire a new general manager before they hire their new head coach.

"After interviewing three GM candidates -- former Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, former Titans GM Jon Robinson and Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy -- last week, the Jets took a break for the holidays," the NFL Network duo wrote.

"It's not a given they'll hire the GM before the head coach; no currently employed coaches or executives can interview for the job until after the regular season ends."

The Jets have been already searching for a new GM, but have not been able to interview any coaching candidates due to NFL hiring rules. They are not allowed to speak to anyone currently employed by another team until the end of the regular season.

Oddly, this isn’t the worst idea I have seen come out from Woody Johnson in the last few months, depending on which coach they hire. Woody Johnson has been a lightning rod for parody and ridicule this season, more so than in the past. From his reported nixing of trades due to Madden rankings, or his making a general mockery of the entire franchise when firing head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas mid-season. Woody has been using former GM Mike Tannenbaum as well as former Vikings GM Rick Spielman to help with his GM search.

While unconventional, hiring a head coach before hiring a GM isn’t a bad move, but as I said, it will depend on who that head coach is. If the Jets were to hire a coach with experience, and not just head coaching experience, but winning head coaching experience, and having that person’s input on the GM is a good way to go.

For example, if the Jets were able to lure Mike Vrabel into the building and he had wanted some input in the GM, I would give it to him. If the Jets were to bring in Matt Nagy, who was laughed out of Chicago, I would want no part of his input in who the general manager should be.

Now, if the Jets were to hire an inexperienced coach, like Aaron Glenn, with the intention of letting them bring in the general manager, that would be a mistake. The head coach and the GM must have a great working relationship, but the head coach should ultimately work for the GM. That kind of input needs to be earned and not handed to in desperation by a flailing franchise.

Like many of the Jets ideas, on the surface it isn’t terrible, but it will be execution that will determine if the idea is a good one or bad one. I have seen too many of the latter in my lifetime to give Woody Johnson the benefit of the doubt.