New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers nailed it with dead-on accuracy — not a move, however a prediction.
“If I do not do what I do know I am able to doing,” he stated in Could after an offseason follow, “we’re all most likely going to be out of right here.”
Out: Basic 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 number of months, Rodgers may very well be the subsequent man out.
The Jets, who lured Rodgers out of the darkness almost two years in the past, are actually those in the dead of night, heading towards a complete reboot within the offseason.
One after the other, proprietor Woody Johnson is taking good care of household enterprise, eliminating the heads of his group to start out a brand new period. He is working out of individuals to fireside, however you by no means know what would possibly occur. There are nonetheless six weeks to go in maybe essentially the most disappointing season in franchise historical past.
Six weeks in the past, Johnson known as this one of the best 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 may have a brand new GM, a brand new coach and, presumably, a brand new quarterback — which might be an unprecedented trifecta for them. Johnson fired Douglas this early to get a bounce 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 may very well be the most well liked 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 similar time. (Consultants Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf had been closely concerned in that course of.) The newest teaching hires (Saleh and Adam Gase) and GM rent (Douglas) had been dealt with by vice chairman Christopher Johnson, who ran the crew whereas his older brother served because the ambassador to the UK (2017-21).
If Woody Johnson returns to the identical submit 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 performing proprietor. It’d make sense to usher in somebody with a recent 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 preferred alternative. His title 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 dropping and the firings. One individual near the scenario described it as a “depressing” ambiance, saying Douglas most likely was glad to get away from it.
Johnson had develop into more and more meddlesome in personnel issues, a number of individuals near the scenario stated. It was Johnson who demanded the benching of security Tony Adams for final Sunday’s sport towards the Indianapolis Colts, they stated. It is extremely uncommon for an proprietor to be that concerned. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich supplied solely a cryptic rationalization for the benching, saying, “There’s a variety of various things that went into that and I might relatively not develop 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 flawed. 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 a whole overhaul, beginning at quarterback.
Rodgers, who turns 41 on Dec. 2, hasn’t performed anyplace near his earlier commonplace, rating twenty fourth out of 31 quarterbacks in Complete QBR. He is signed for subsequent season, however he and the Jets seem headed towards a mutual parting. One individual aware of Woody Johnson’s considering 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 exhausting to think about him wanting to stay round to play for a brand new coach and be taught 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.
The whole lot modified on Sept. 11, 2023, when Rodgers ruptured his Achilles in his first sport with the crew. 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 received five-plus seasons (document: 30-64), outlasted two coaches (Gase and Saleh) and was granted a reprieve on his greatest mistake — the drafting of quarterback Zach Wilson, second general 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, considering the fast repair would make every part proper. However because the four-time MVP alluded, they’d all be out of there if he did not play to his potential. Everyone knew the stakes.
All or nothing.
Nothing received.
