It’s been more than a day since the Jets fired Mike Maccagnan and New York is still in search of a new general manager.
We’ve already discussed four potential replacements, including Eagles’ VP of player personnel Joe Douglas and NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, but there are still plenty of candidates out there for Christopher Johnson to consider.
The relationship between Adam Gase and the new GM will be incredibly important to the future of the Jets, as the two will help shape the franchise as it moves forward with what is mostly still a Maccagnan-constructed roster.
Here are four more possible general managers for the Jets to consider.
Scott Pioli, Falcons former assistant general manager
Initially, this name would not have been on this list. But after the Falcons announced Thursday that Pioli would step down to “pursue other opportunities,” the former assistant general manager has to be considered for the Jets job.
Pioli spent the past four-and-a-half seasons as Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff’s right-hand man. Previously, Pioli was the general manager of the Chiefs from 2012-2014 and worked in the Patriots organization for eight years in various player personnel roles. Eventually, Pioli worked his way up to Patriots vice president of player personnel, which he served from 2002-2008.
Pioli actually helped rebuilt the Jets franchise in the late 1990s after coming over from the Browns with Bill Belichick. The Jets hired Pioli as the director of pro personnel in 1997, where he was credited with signing players like Kevin Mawae and Vinny Testaverde and helping the team transform from a 1-15 record in 1996 to a 12-4 record in 1998.
Matt Russell, Broncos Director of Player Personnel
Russell is a respected scout in NFL circles and is credited with helping general manager John Elway build the Broncos into a consistent contender in the league. Since the Broncos promoted Russell to his current position in 2012, the team has 64 regular season wins, four AFC West titles, two AFC championships and a Super Bowl 50 win.
Russell has 17 years of NFL front office or scouting experience and helped orchestrate the Broncos 2018 draft that included studs like defensive end Bradley Chubb, wide receiver Courtland Sutton and undrafted running back Philip Lindsay.
He also has a Gase connection, as both joined the Broncos in 2009 – Gase as the wide receivers coach and Russell as the director of college scouting.
Louis Riddick, NFL analyst at ESPN
If the Jets are interested in NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah for a position in their front office, why not take a look at another TV analyst with even more front office experience in ESPN’s Louis Riddick?
Riddick, who is also a former NFL safety, moved up the scouting ranks after his playing days to become the Redskins’ director of pro personnel from 2005-2007. He then moved on to the Eagles, where he ascended to director of pro personnel in 2010 after two years with the organization.
Riddick interviewed for the Eagles’ GM job in 2010 before it went to Howie Roseman, and he had reportedly been courted by the Chiefs for their GM position in 2017 after they fired John Dorsey (though Riddick denied it).
Mike Borgonzi, Chiefs director of football operations
After the Chiefs fired John Dorsey in 2017, Borgonzi was one of two potential in-house general manager replacements. The second was Brett Veach, who ended up taking the job and has helped turn the Chiefs into a powerhouse in the AFC.
Borgonzi has worked in the Chiefs scouting and personnel department for 10 years and helped Dorsey and Veach with some of the Chiefs’ most important draft picks in recent years like Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt. He has the experience and the pedigree to be a GM in the NFL and could be an intriguing option for the Jets.
