NFL Trade Rumors: New York Jets Fire General Manager Joe Douglas

The New York Jets are waving the white flag on the 2024 regular season. According to SNYtv's Connor Hughes, the Jets are firing general manager Joe Douglas.

The #Jets fired Joe Douglas, per sources
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) November 19, 2024

Douglas joined the Jets in 2019 along with head coach Adam Gase. Douglas survived Gase's firing following the 2020 season, at which point he oversaw the hiring of San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and the drafting of BYU quarterback Zach Wilson.

After Wilson struggled through two middling seasons, Douglas and the Jets made a fateful trade for Green Bay Packers great Aaron Rodgers in the 2023 offseason, which would ultimately spell the end for Douglas.

Rodgers tore his Achilles in the opening game of the 2023 season, dooming the Jets to an eighth-straight losing season. The Jets would enter 2024 with high hopes, but things quickly got out of hand. They made multiple big moves in an attempt to salvage their spiralling season, including firing Saleh following a 2-3 start and acquiring three-time All-Pro wide receiver (and Rodgers friend) Davante Adams, but losses kept piling up. Now, at 3-8, the Jets finally appear willing to admit failure.

Douglas's firing is yet another sign the Jets are heading for a tumultuous offseason. Clearly, they'll be looking for a new head coach and general manager, but what will that mean for Rodgers? The Jets have clearly bent over backwards to accommodate the four-time MVP so far, but is firing Douglas an indication that Rodgers' days are numbered as well?

Fundamentally, the Jets' failures this season are primarily on offense. Their 18.5 points per game are 26th in the league, and they've lost five one-score games. Unfortunately, moving on from Rodgers won't be easy: Per Spotrac, the Jets will be stuck with $49 million in dead money if they cut or trade Rodgers in 2025.

Rodgers is already the last man standing in this current era of Jets futility. Ultimately, he can't be part of the Jets' long-term plans. His effectiveness has waned, and he'll be 41 years old before next season begins. For the health of the franchise, the Jets have to begin pivoting away from the future Hall of Famer this offseason, even if it means a very expensive cut or trade.