“Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman assist Jets in GM and HC search”

The New York Jets, facing an organizational reset after firing their coach and general manager, are drawing on their past to help with that process.

The 33rd team, created by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum in 2019, was hired by the team to provide data analysis and experience in searching for the two positions. The 33rd Team is a media and technology company better known as a “football think tank.”

Tannenbaum and former Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman, who served as a consultant for the Washington Commanders’ GM and coaching search last year, will lead the project for the 33rd team.

The Jets, led by owner Woody Johnson, will oversee the search. Tannenbaum and Spielman will screen candidates and conduct reference checks, as well as provide data on hiring trends. Simply put, they can serve as a sounding board throughout the entire process. It’s too early to say whether they will participate in the actual interviews.

The Jets are in the midst of their most disappointing season in recent memory, firing coach Robert Saleh on Oct. 8 and general manager Joe Douglas last week (3-8). Jeff Ulbrich and Phil Savage serve as the Jets’ interim coach and general manager, respectively.

This is the first time since 2015 that the team has attempted to fill the GM and head coach positions in the same offseason. In 2015, the Jets hired former GMs Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf as consultants and eventually hired Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles as GM and coach, respectively.

The 33rd team has helped search for college coaches, but this will be the organization’s first NFL search.

In hiring the 55-year-old Tannenbaum, who also works as an ESPN analyst, Johnson is leaning on someone he has known since purchasing the team in 2000.

Tannenbaum worked as the Jets’ cap specialist from 1997 to 2005 and was promoted to GM in 2006. The Jets reached the playoffs three times under Tannenbaum, but he was fired by Johnson after the 2012 season.

As an executive for the Jets and Miami Dolphins (2015-18), Tannenbaum led three coaching searches, hiring Eric Mangini (2006) and Rex Ryan (2009) for the Jets and Adam Gase (2016) for the Dolphins. He also participated in the Jets’ search that produced Herm Edwards (2001). In any case, the team made the playoffs in its first season under the new coach.

Tannenbaum’s connection to Ryan will fuel speculation about a reunion, especially since Ryan has openly supported the opening, but it’s premature to say Ryan will be a candidate. The Johnsons, Woody and brother Christopher, will make the final decision.

During the Jets’ last playoff appearance (2010), Ryan was the coach; he was released after the 2014 season. Their playoff drought is about to reach 14 years, the NFL’s longest active drought.

Spielman, 61, was GM of the Vikings from 2012 to 2021 and reached the playoffs four times. He conducted only one coaching search during that time, hiring Mike Zimmer in 2014. Zimmer played eight seasons and appeared in three playoff games.