Former NFL executives to assist Jets in HC, GM searches

The search will still be led by Jets owner Woody Johnson, while Tannenbaum and Spielman will vet candidates and coordinate interviews.

The Jets did something similar to this back in 2015 when former general managers Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf consulted Johnson during the hires of Mike Maccagnan as general manager and Todd Bowles as head coach.

Tannenbaum and Spielman should each bring something unique to the table this time around.

Tannenbaum knows the Jets franchise and Johnson well, having worked for the team for 15 years, including a stint as the general manager from 2006-12. After his time with the Jets, Tannenbaum worked for the Dolphins and is currently an analyst for ESPN.

Tannenbaum is also a founder of The 33rd Team, "a football think tank and media platform." Assisting in an NFL general manager or head-coaching search is a first for The 33rd Team, which just launched a Professional Services Offering.

Spielman was the Dolphins general manager in 2004 and the Vikings general manager from 2012-21. Last offseason, Spielman served as an advisor to the Washington Commanders during their general manager and head-coaching search.

Some interesting candidates have come to light. Just last week, The 33rd Team published a list of general manager candidates for the Jets on its website.

It has since taken down the list, but the names included Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew, Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi, Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds and Saints assistant general manager Jeff Ireland.

Another candidate with connections to Tannenbaum, who has surfaced, is NFL Chief Football Administrative Officer Dawn Aponte. Aponte worked for the Jets from 1991-2005, she worked with Tannenbaum in Miami and she interviewed for the Chargers' general manager opening last offseason.

While the Jets hiring their former general manager, who they fired over a decade ago, to find them a new general manager may seem odd, this seems like a good move by Johnson. 

Rather than making the decisions by himself, he is bringing in two former executives with experience and connections around the league to assist him in the search.