The Jets had a busy day Saturday as they search for a new general manager. The team interviewed five candidates, including two who had not previously been reported.
Broncos assistant general manager Darren Mougey and Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark were interviewed by the team on Saturday. Two new names have been added to that list.
They were joined by senior Bengals personnel executive Trey Brown, Vikings senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson and special assistant to Lions owner and CEO Chris Spielman.
In addition to the GM interview, the team spoke with Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi about his head coaching openings.
The flurry of general manager interviews has brought the Jets’ total to 13 people they’ve interviewed for the position vacated when the team fired Joe Douglas in November.
They are also expected to interview Bills assistant GM Brian Gaine and Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan for the GM position.
Mougey, 39, has been with the Broncos since 2012, when he began his career as a scouting intern.
He rose through the scouting department to become assistant GM in 2022.
In a 2022 interview with the Broncos website, Denver GM George Paton said Mougey will be GM one day.
“He’s still young,” Paton told the website. “He will continue to learn and continue to get better, but [he] Definitely going to be a GM in the future.”
Newmark has only been with the Commanders for a year.
He spent 26 seasons with the Lions before that.
His last role with the Lions was senior director of player personnel.
He oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Lions’ football information and football technology departments and served in professional and college scouting roles.
The Jets will soon enter week two of their full-fledged search for a new GM and coach.
We can begin interviewing coaching candidates for playoff teams this weekend, but it will all have to be virtual.
The Jets have requested interviews with the following coaches in the playoffs this weekend: Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and Steelers. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Coaching interviews with currently employed candidates must remain virtual until Jan. 20, but GM interviews will be permitted to be in-person, which could result in the Jets hiring a GM before hiring a coach.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Jets begin a second round of interviews with GM candidates later this week.
