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New York Jets owner Woody Johnson named Phil Savage as interim general manager following the firing of Joe Douglas on Tuesday (November 19).
“Today, I informed Joe Douglas he will no longer serve as the General Manager of the New York Jets,” Johnson said via Pro Football Talk. “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.”
Savage, 59, has been with the Jets organization as a senior football advisor since 2019, having previously worked as the Cleveland Browns' general manager from 2005 to 2008 and also working as the executive director of the Senior Bowl from 2012 to 2018. Douglas' firing came one month after the team fired former head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start.
The Jets have since gone 1-6 in games under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. Douglas, 48, was hired by the Jets in 2019 after previously working as the vice president of player personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2016 to 2019, the director of college scouting for the Chicago Bears in 2015 and a scout for the Baltimore Ravens from 2000 to 2014.
The Virginia native was responsible for drafting quarterback Zach Wilson -- who was released this past offseason -- at No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and trading for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a season-ending injury during his first drive with the Jets last season and has since gone 3-8 as a starter in 2024. The Jets went 30-64 during Douglas' tenure, having missed the playoffs every years since 2010.