The New York Jets announced the firing of general manager Mike Maccagnan today, as well as his right-hand man, VP of Player Personnel Brian Heimerdinger. In the interim, head coach Adam Gase will serve as the team's general manager - but ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Eagles’ vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas is a possible long-term replacement.
Jets chariman and CEO, Christopher Johnson, released the following statement on Wednesday regarding the decision to fire the GM just three weeks after the NFL Draft.
“Mike helped to execute the strategic vision of the organization during the last four seasons and especially the past few months,” chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson said in a statement. “However, I came to the decision to make a change after much thought and a careful assessment of what would be in the best long-term interests of the New York Jets.
“I will start a search for our new General Manager immediately. In the interim, Coach Gase will be the acting General Manager. I would like to thank Mike for his time and efforts during his tenure, and I wish only the best for him and his wife Betty.”
News of Maccagnan's firing comes amid rumors that he and Gase got into an argument centered around the draft, and how much they should have offered running back Le'Veon Bell. For what it's worth, Gase later downplayed the reports.
Whether he had a dispute with Gase or not, the move to fire Maccagnan (who still had two years on his contract) took many by surprise considering he signed several highly coveted free agents this off-season, including Bell and CJ Moseley, and conducted a draft in which the Jets had the third overall pick.
Naturally, twitter is buzzing. Check out some of the reactions below.
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