New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers nailed it with dead-on accuracy — not a cross, however a prediction.
“If I do not do what I do know I am able to doing,” he stated in Might after an offseason observe, “we’re all most likely going to be out of right here.”
Out: Common supervisor Joe Douglas, fired Tuesday.
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Out: Coach Robert Saleh, fired Oct. 8.
Demoted: Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, stripped of playcalling Oct. 10.
In a couple of months, Rodgers could possibly be the subsequent man out.
The Jets, who lured Rodgers out of the darkness almost two years in the past, are actually those at midnight, heading towards a complete reboot within the offseason.
One after the other, proprietor Woody Johnson is caring for household enterprise, eliminating the heads of his group to start out a brand new period. He is operating out of individuals to fireplace, however you by no means know what may occur. There’s nonetheless six weeks to go in maybe probably the most disappointing season in franchise historical past.
Six weeks in the past, Johnson known as this the perfect roster he is had in 25 years of possession. On Tuesday, he gave up on the roster, handing its architect — Douglas — a pink slip.
In 2025, the Jets can have a brand new GM, a brand new coach and, probably, a brand new quarterback — which might be an unprecedented trifecta for them. Johnson fired Douglas this early to get a soar on the GM search, which figures to get aggressive.
Johnson hasn’t commented on his plans, however the conventional route can be to rent a GM, who hires the coach. That is not etched in stone, although. If Johnson covets Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (no relation), who could possibly be the most popular head-coaching candidate, would he give him extra authority than the GM? Different groups, together with the San Francisco 49ers, make use of this construction.
Woody Johnson hasn’t employed a coach or GM since 2015, when he introduced Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan on board on the identical time. (Consultants Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf have been closely concerned in that course of.) The newest teaching hires (Saleh and Adam Gase) and GM rent (Douglas) have been dealt with by vice chairman Christopher Johnson, who ran the staff whereas his older brother served because the ambassador to the UK (2017-2021).
If Woody Johnson returns to the identical publish in Donald Trump’s second administration, which is feasible, the expectation is that he would stick round lengthy sufficient to get a brand new Jets regime in place earlier than heading off to London. Christopher would return to the function of appearing proprietor. It’d make sense to herald somebody with a contemporary perspective — a president of soccer operations — to help within the rebuilding of the entrance workplace. Former Jets nice Curtis Martin, who has maintained NFL contacts via his enterprise ventures, can be a well-liked alternative. His identify has created some buzz on social media.
The brand new boss (or bosses) will stroll right into a constructing that has been demoralized by the shedding and the firings. One particular person near the scenario described it as a “depressing” ambiance, saying Douglas most likely was glad to get away from it.
Johnson had turn out to be more and more meddlesome in personnel issues, a number of folks near the scenario stated. It was Johnson who demanded the benching of security Tony Adams for final Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts, they stated. It is extremely uncommon for an proprietor to be that concerned. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich provided solely a cryptic clarification for the benching, saying, “There’s a variety of various things that went into that and I might reasonably not increase on it.”
Woody Johnson thought changing Saleh with Ulbrich, the favored defensive coordinator, would spark a turnaround after a 2-3 begin.
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He thought fallacious. Since then, the Jets are 1-5, with a once-proud protection that now ranks among the many worst within the league (twenty fourth in factors allowed since Week 6). Johnson thought he was handing Ulbrich a damaged Ferrari that simply wanted a tune-up; in actuality, it wants an entire overhaul, beginning at quarterback.
Rodgers, who turns 41 on Dec. 2, hasn’t performed wherever near his earlier customary, rating twenty fourth out of 31 quarterbacks in Whole QBR. He is signed for subsequent season, however he and the Jets seem headed towards a mutual parting. One particular person acquainted with Woody Johnson’s pondering stated he’d be “shocked” if the proprietor brings again Rodgers in 2025.
Rodgers won’t need to return. He got here to New York to play for Douglas, Saleh and Hackett, and it is onerous to think about him wanting to stay round to play for a brand new coach and study a brand new system.
In April 2023, Douglas made the most important commerce in franchise historical past, buying Rodgers from the Inexperienced Bay Packers. He thought Rodgers would do for the Jets what Tom Brady and Peyton Manning did for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos, respectively.
For the reason that commerce, the Jets are 10-18.
Every part modified on Sept. 11, 2023, when Rodgers ruptured his Achilles in his first recreation with the staff. Simply rotten luck. Nothing has been the identical since then.
Douglas, who was employed in 2019, cannot say he did not get a good probability. He obtained five-plus seasons (file: 30-64), outlasted two coaches (Gase and Saleh) and was granted a reprieve on his greatest mistake — the drafting of quarterback Zach Wilson, No. 2 total in 2021.
Not many GMs get a second chew on the quarterback apple, however Douglas, who’s contract was up on the finish of the season, pivoted from Wilson to Rodgers, pondering the fast repair would make the whole lot proper. However because the four-time MVP alluded, they’d all be out of there if he did not play to his potential. All people knew the stakes.
All or nothing.
Nothing gained.
