How Woody Johnson should fill the Jets’ GM and head coaching vacancies

With both the general manager and head coach in exile, the New York Jets have two important decisions to make in the coming months.

It won’t be an easy task, especially for owner Woody Johnson, who hasn’t seemed to have made the right choice since Rex Ryan (and no, we’re not advocating for Ryan’s return). Still, despite all the talent on the roster, the Jets need to find experienced management capable of establishing a culture around the players.

Looking for a General Manager

If I were the owner of the Jets and were hiring the next general manager, my focus would be on hiring Minnesota Vikings senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson.

He has been with the Vikings since 2022 and was even general manager of the Indianapolis Colts from 2012 to 2016. The former 2012 Manager of the Year has had a slew of jobs in the NFL, but the seven-plus years of stability he’s had in two well-run organizations make me willing to make this hire.

Not only is his experience important, but his nose for talent that can produce at a high level in both free agency, trades and the draft is what the Jets need. He was hired by the Colts in 2012, a year after the team went 2-14 the year before. He chose QB Andrew Luck and the team had three consecutive 11-5 seasons.

Now, Luck’s career didn’t last long due to injuries, but no Jets GM has ever selected anyone with anywhere near the former Stanford star’s talent. There was also a debate about whether Luck or Robert Griffin III would be the No. 1 pick, and the Colts made the more worthwhile choice. Meanwhile, the Jets used the No. 2 and No. 3 overall picks on Zach Wilson (2021) and Sam Darnold (2018) and we all saw how that worked out.

RELATED: Why Woody Johnson Finally Fired Joe Douglas

During his Colts tenure, Grigson posted a 49-31 record and reached the playoffs three times, winning multiple division titles. After spending the last few years with the Vikings, they made the playoffs last season, and even with Darnold at QB, they’re looking to make another appearance.

The next head coach

Without a doubt, Mike Vrabel should be the Jets’ next head coach. When you look at his time as head coach with the Titans and his lineage from Bill Belichick, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be part of the Jets’ press to welcome him to the franchise.

After being fired by the Titans in 2023, the fact that he wasn’t hired anywhere as a head coach was surprising. Not only is Vrabel an alpha on and off the field, but his accolades also show that he is a proven coach. From 2018 to 2023, Vrabel’s time with the Titans included an overall record of 54-45, three playoff appearances, an AFC Championship Game and multiple division titles. The most impressive thing about this is that this all happened with Ryan Tannehill as QB, who unfortunately is currently unemployed.

A perfect example of how Vrabel’s culture differs from others were Harold Landry’s comments about Vrabel. In this case, he says new head coach Brian Callahan’s job is better because “I felt like the old way was that everyone was kind of locked into one way of doing things.” What What Landry doesn’t realize is that his approach led to the team’s success for nearly half a decade. Plus, this sport is about winning, and unless I see something, the Titans are primed to have a top pick in the NFL Draft.

Vrabel would also be a perfect fit for the Jets. This team needs to establish a culture of tough style, and when you have one of your best players like Garrett Wilson who is just tired of losing, he’s going to be the guy to take that to heart. Because Vrabel is a former player in a successful organization like the New England Patriots, he understands and has seen firsthand what winning is supposed to look like.

If I were Woody Johnson, I would hire these two people, step back and let them run the team without restrictions. Then maybe the Jets can finally build a sustainable winner.

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