Woody Johnson addresses Joe Douglas firing as Jets name interim GM

Jets owner Woody Johnson has confirmed the reports that general manager Joe Douglas has been relieved of his duties with the organization and named former Browns GM Phil Savage to the role on an interim basis.“Today, I informed Joe Douglas he will no longer serve as General Manager of the New York Jets,” Johnson said in a statement Tuesday.“I want to thank Joe for his commitment to the Jets over the last six years and wish him and his family the best moving forward.

Phil Savage will be the Interim General Manager for the remainder of the season.We will begin the process to identify a new General Manager immediately.”Douglas’ firing comes six weeks after Johnson made the decision, above Douglas’ head, to fire head coach Robert Saleh.The Jets had a 30-64 record during Douglas’ tenure, which began in 2019.The bright spot in Douglas’ time with the Jets was the 2022 NFL Draft class, which featured Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Jermaine Johnson and Breece Hall.However, Douglas whiffed on Zach Wilson with the second overall pick in 2021 and his first-round pick in 2020, Mekhi Becton, did not pan out for the team.The Jets entered the last two seasons with high expectations after acquiring Aaron Rodgers from the Packers, but he tore his Achilles four snaps into his Jets debut in the season opener against the Bills last season and this year has largely looked like a shell of his former self.

Savage spent nine years in the Ravens’ front office before becoming the Browns’ GM from 2005-08.He later joined the Eagles’ player personnel department.He has been a senior advisor with the Jets since 2019.Johnson served as an ambassador to the UK in the previous Trump administration and is widely expected to re-join Trump for a role in his second term.

Johnson’s brother Christopher managed the Jets on a day-to-day basis during the ambassadorship....