The Jets have found their next general manager.
The team announced on Friday evening that Joe Douglas, formerly the Eagles vice president of player personnel, has agreed to terms to join the Jets' front office.
Per SNY Insider Ralph Vacchiano, Douglas did not make this easy for the Jets. The negotiations lasted several days and it took several offers from the Jets before Douglas finally accepted, according to an NFL source. At one point, some people close to him thought he would eventually turn the Jets down.
But the Jets were persistent since Douglas was by far their top choice, and they eventually agreed to give him a six-year contract for more than $3 million per year, a source confirmed to Vacchiano. That gives him a longer deal then Jets coach Adam Gase currently has.
The Jets also interviewed Scott Fitterer, the Seattle Seahawks co-director of player personnel, Champ Kelly, the Chicago Bears assistant director of player personnel, and Terry Fontenot, the New Orleans Saints director of pro scouting, for the job.
"The Jets may have made a mess of things, but they actually came out of this in a better place," an NFL exec told Vacchiano. "Lots of teams were going to want Joe Douglas next year. He's a star."
Vacchiano also notes that the Jets will maintain their power structure, reporting that both Gase and Douglas will be on equal footing, with both reporting directly to CEO Christopher Johnson. Douglas technically has final say on the roster, but given his close relationship with Gase, that is not expected to be an issue.
With the Eagles, Douglas helped build a Super Bowl champion. Prior to his time in Philadelphia, he spent one year as the Bears' director of college scouting, and 16 years in the Ravens' player personnel department.