The Jets officially announced that Phil Savage will be joining Joe Douglas’s front office on Wednesday afternoon.
The former Cleveland Browns general manager has been out of the NFL since 2012 when he was a player personnel executive with the Philadelphia Eagles. Most recently, Savage was serving as the GM of the Arizona Hotshots of the now defunct Alliance of American Football.
Savage is one of three new faces that can help Douglas and the Jets bolster their scouting department. We’ll get to them in the coming days.
For now, let’s get to know the Jets’ newest senior football adviser.
Longtime NFL Executive
While Phil Savage has been out of the NFL for nearly seven years, he comes with loads of experience.
Savage served as the Ravens’ director of college scouting (1996-2002) and director of player personnel (2003-04). In Cleveland, he was the Browns’ senior vice president/general manager from 2005-08 before joining the Eagles as a player personnel consultant (2010-11) and player personnel executive (2011-12).
Senior Bowl
From 2012-18, Savage served as the director of the Senior Bowl.
He mutually parted ways with the Senior Bowl for a chance to be the GM of the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football, which folded before the end of its first season.
For over a decade, the Jets have struggled as far as the draft is concerned. Hiring an executive like Savage, with his previous resources and knowledge of the college game, is a great start to correcting that course.
Joe Douglas Connection
Filling out his front office, Joe Douglas wanted some familiarity.
Douglas turned to Savage for a reunion of sorts. The duo worked together in Baltimore from 2000-05 with Douglas serving as a scout and Savage heading the college scouting and player personnel departments.
This time around and nearly 14 years later, Savage will be working under Douglas, trying to win another Super Bowl.
Drafting Track Record
While Savage has some blemishes next to his name, his drafting record includes some Hall of Famers, Pro Bowlers and All-Pros.
With the Baltimore Ravens, Savage played an important role in drafting OT Jonathan Ogden, LB Ray Lewis, WR Jermaine Lewis, LB Peter Boulware, CB Chris McAlister, RB Jamal Lewis, LB Adalius Thomas, TE Todd Heap, S Ed Reed and LB Terrell Suggs.
While in Cleveland, Savage’s most famous draft pick with the Browns was Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas — the third overall pick in 2007.
If the Jets can get that level of success from their scouting department, Savage will play an integral role in getting New York to the next level.
