Jets Follow Lions’ Blueprint with Key Front Office Overhaul
The New York Jets are taking a page from the Detroit Lions’ playbook as they continue to reshape their front office, with a key addition aimed at strengthening their organizational structure. New head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey are making moves to distance themselves from the “old guard” and bring in fresh voices with the hire of former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman as a senior football advisor.
Spielman, who spent a decade as the Vikings’ GM and has more than 15 years of experience in NFL front offices, is considered a crucial addition to the Jets’ leadership team. His wealth of knowledge and respected presence in the league will be invaluable for the 39-year-old Mougey, who has only ever worked with one NFL organization (the Denver Broncos). Spielman’s role will likely involve providing advice to the Jets’ ownership and serving as a bridge between the front office and coaching staff, similar to the role that his brother, Chris Spielman, plays with the Detroit Lions.
This move comes just days after the Jets made other significant changes, parting ways with co-director of player personnel Greg Nejmeh and senior director of football administration David Socie. The team also hired former Denver Broncos scout Rob Paton as their new co-director of player personnel. Spielman’s hire stands out as the most significant, given his previous leadership experience and deep understanding of what it takes to build a successful franchise.
The Jets’ front-office overhaul has drawn comparisons to the one undertaken by the Lions back in 2021, when they brought in former NFL executive John Dorsey to serve as a senior personnel executive alongside Brad Holmes, who was hired as the team’s new general manager. Dorsey’s presence helped guide Holmes through the early stages of his tenure, giving him a wealth of knowledge to draw from as he made key roster and personnel decisions. Now, with Spielman stepping into a similar role with the Jets, there are high hopes that this organizational structure will help guide them through their rebuilding process.
This overhaul represents a break from the Jets’ past, where they stuck with the same leadership group across multiple coaching and general management regimes. By taking a more proactive approach and adopting the Lions’ blueprint, the Jets are finally making the kinds of changes needed to bring long-term success. Fans are optimistic that these strategic moves will turn the page on a history of underperformance, leading to better decisions, smarter roster-building, and, ultimately, a more competitive team on the field. It may be different this time—Jets fans certainly hope so.
NY Jets Make Big Move, Hiring Former Lions GM to Shape Their Future
