As of this article is being published, the New York Jets have requested to interview, have interviewed, or are scheduled to interview 12 candidates for the organization’s general manager vacancy.
Here are the 12 candidates divided into tiers as we look at their resumes in-depth.
F tier
Louis Riddick
Currently serving as an NFL analyst at ESPN, Louis Riddick, 55, has 13 years of experience in NFL front offices with Philadelphia and Washington.
However, the former safety has not worked in the league in over a decade. Riddick last served as the Philadelphia Eagles director of pro personnel (2010-13), following his roles as the organization’s assistant director of pro personnel (2009) and a pro scout (2008).
Before his time with the Eagles, Riddick spent seven seasons with Washington, serving as a pro scout (2001-04) and director of pro personnel (2005-07).
The main reason for Riddick’s placement in the F tier is that he has no prior experience serving as a general manager and hasn’t served in an NFL front office since 2013. So much has changed in NFL front offices over the last 12 years, most importantly, the increased use of analytics.
While the 55-year-old’s long absence from an NFL front office is the primary reason for his ranking, it also isn’t a great look that he attacked the Jets and their fans on social media multiple times in the past year. For that reason alone, he does not seem like a viable general manager candidate.
Jim Nagy
Currently serving as the Reese’s Senior Bowl executive director, Jim Nagy had a 15-year career as an NFL scout. He served the Seattle Seahawks’ Southeast area scout for six seasons (2013-18). Prior to his time in Seattle, Nagy worked as a West Coast area scout for Washington (2001-02), a Midwest area scout for the New England Patriots (2002-09), and a national scout for the Kansas City Chiefs (2009-13).
The main reason for Nagy’s placement in the F tier is his lack of experience as an executive; all of his front-office experience is in scouting. Also, like Riddick, he has been out of an NFL front office for quite some time, last serving as a scout with the Seahawks in 2018.
D tier
Ray Farmer
Currently, Ray Farmer serves as a senior personnel executive in his fourth season with the Los Angeles Rams. Farmer, 50, is known for working closely with Rams general manager Les Sneed throughout the draft process.
Before his time in L.A., the former linebacker spent three seasons with the Browns (2013-15). Farmer spent his first season in Cleveland serving as the organization’s assistant general manager before being promoted to general manager, spending two seasons in the role.
Over his two-year stint as the Browns’ GM, Farmer compiled a 10-22 record, going 7-9 in 2014 and 3-13 in 2015.
Farmer has also served as a scout with the Atlanta Falcons (2002-05) and as the director of pro personnel with the Kansas City Chiefs (2006-12).
While Farmer has experience as a general manager (which I think is very important), he failed miserably and has yet to earn a second opportunity in that role. Based on his track record as a GM, Farmer falls in the D tier.
C tier
Trey Brown
Currently serving as the Cincinnati Bengals’ senior personnel executive, Trey Brown has one of the most fascinating backgrounds among general manager candidates the Jets have expressed interest in.
Brown’s experience as an executive expands beyond the NFL, as the former cornerback spent the 2019 season serving as the AAF’s Birmingham Iron’s executive vice president of football operations. Brown also has experience in the XFL, spending the 2020 season serving as the St. Louis Battlehawks’ director of player personnel.
Before his stints in the AAF and XFL, Brown spent six seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, serving in various scouting roles, including:
- Area scout (2013-2014)
- Assistant director of college scouting (2015)
- Director of college scouting (2016-2018)
The 39-year-old also spent three seasons with the New England Patriots (2010-2012), serving as a scouting assistant (2010) and area scout (2011-2012).
While Brown has an intriguing background, he has no prior experience as a general manager and hasn’t stood out as a star within NFL front offices. I view him as a middle-of-the-road candidate, placing him in the C tier.
Jon-Eric Sullivan
Currently serving as the Green Bay Packers’ vice president of player personnel, Jon-Eric Sullivan has been a staple within the Packers front office.
All 21 years of Sullivan’s experience as an executive come with the Packers, working his way up their front office ranks. Sullivan started his tenure in Green Bay, serving as the organization’s national football scouting representative (2004). Since he arrived in Wisconsin, Sullivan has served in several other roles, including:
- Central Plains regional scout (2008-2011)
- Southeast regional scout (2012-2015)
- Director of college scouting (2016-2017)
- Co-director of player personnel (2018-2021)
- Vice president of player personnel (2022-present)
Over his tenure, Sullivan has proven to be a strong talent evaluator. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Sullivan has also been involved with the salary cap while having a voice in the coaching search that landed head coach Matt LaFleur. Breer also noted Sullivan was the first scout to put quarterback Jordan Love on Green Bay’s general manager Brian Gutekunst’s radar.
While Sullivan has an impressive track record as a talent evaluator and limited expertise with the cap, I believe he could strongly benefit from staying in Green Bay for a few more seasons. I view Sullivan as an average candidate this offseason, placing him in the C tier.
Alec Halaby
Currently serving as the Philadelphia Eagles’ assistant general manager, Alec Halaby has been with the Eagles organization for 17 years.
Halaby has nothing short of a fascinating story with the Eagles. Halaby has worked his way up the ranks within Philly’s front office, starting his tenure with the organization in 2007 as an intern. Over his tenure, Halaby has served in a surplus of roles, including player personnel analyst (2010-11), special assistant to general manager (2012-15), vice president of football operations and strategy (2016-21), and assistant general manager (2022-present).
The Harvard product is known for being an analytical wizard while serving as general manager Howie Roseman’s right-hand man since 2022.
Halaby’s strong analytical background and experience in various executive roles make him an intriguing candidate for the Jets’ general manager position. However, significant uncertainty remains about his suitability for a general manager role, placing him in the C tier.
Jon Robinson
Robinson, 48, served seven seasons as the Tennessee Titans’ general manager (2016-2022). Over his tenure, the Titans compiled a 66-48 record while recording a winning record in each of his first six seasons. The Titans also won two division titles, including four playoff appearances over Robinson’s tenure.
Prior to his arrival in Tennessee, Robinson spent three seasons (2013-15) serving as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ director of player personnel.
Based on his record in Tennessee, one might ask, “Why is Robinson in the C tier?”
Well, here’s why.
First off, Robinson’s final three drafts in Tennessee were a complete disaster. Among the 23 players Robinson selected from 2020-22, only three started for Tennessee in Week 1 of the 2024 season.
Secondly, Robinson has been stubborn about using analytics, one of the most essential team-building tools in the modern-day NFL.
On October 6, 2021, ESPN surveyed 22 analytics staffers around the league. Tennessee was voted the “least analytically advanced” team in the NFL while earning eight votes, double any other team.
This is a scenario where a GM’s record could be very misleading. Quite frankly, the only reason Robinson is not in a lower tier is because he has prior experience as a general manager.
Mike Borgonzi
Currently serving as the Kansas City Chiefs’ assistant general manager, Mike Borgonzi is in his 15th season with the organization.
In his fourth season serving as the Chiefs’ assistant general manager, Borgonzi has climbed the organization’s front office ranks since 2009. Throughout his tenure in Kansas City, Borgonzi has served in various roles, including:
- Administrator of college scouting (2009)
- Manager of football operations (2010)
- Pro scout (2011-12)
- Assistant director of pro scouting (2013-14)
- Director of player personnel (2015-17)
- Director of football operations (2018-20)
- Assistant general manager (2021-present)
Despite participating in a dynasty, it’s worth asking: How significant is Borgonzi’s role within the organization? The answer remains unclear, making him a relatively unknown candidate.
B tier
Brian Gaine
Currently serving as the Buffalo Bills’ assistant general manager, Brian Gaine is no stranger to the Jets organization.
After going undrafted following the 1995 NFL draft, Gaine, a former tight end, signed with the Jets and spent part of the 1995 season on the team’s practice squad.
Retiring following the 1998 season, Gaine returned to the Jets organization for six more seasons (1999-2004), serving as a scout.
Unlike most candidates in these rankings, Gaine has experience as a general manager, serving as the Houston Texans’ GM for one full season (2018) and most of the 2019 offseason. In 2018, Houston compiled an 11-5 season, including a playoff berth.
However, Gaine was fired in June 2019 after a former security coordinator filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, stating Gaine had targeted African-American employees for dismissal. Despite the allegations, the Texans organization stated the complaint was unrelated to their decision to fire Gaine.
The following month, Gaine was hired as the Bills’ senior personnel advisor. Defending the hire in the wake of Gaine’s controversy in Houston, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane described the accusations as “baseless,” citing a source in the Houston organization.
While Gaine was in Buffalo, the 2019 Texans went 10-6 and advanced to the divisional round with the roster Gaine constructed. After three years as the Bills’ senior personnel advisor, Gaine was promoted the Bills’ assistant general manager role in 2022.
Gaine’s ties to the Jets organization and his prior history as a general manager make him an above-average candidate for the Jets general manager vacancy, placing him in the B tier.
Mike Greenberg
In his second season serving as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ assistant general manager, Mike Greenberg is viewed as a rising general manager candidate.
Known for his expertise with the salary cap, Greenberg has served as the organization’s cap expert under general manager Jason Licht. The Long Island native had a remarkable offseason last year, helping re-sign several elite players, including wide receiver Mike Evans, linebacker Lavonte David, quarterback Baker Mayfield, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
Greenberg has held several roles with the Buccaneers organization across his 15-year tenure, including vice president of football administration, director of football administration, and coordinator of football administration.
It is also worth noting that Greenberg is no stranger to the Jets organization, having served as a football administration intern with the team in 2008 and 2009 under former general manager Mike Tannenbaum, who is currently assisting with the Jets head coach and general manager search this offseason.
Although Greenberg lacks prior general manager experience, he is the only first-time candidate the Jets have shown interest in whom I would consider a top-tier hire. This is primarily due to his ties to the organization and experience in various roles, demonstrating his versatility as an executive, ultimately placing him in the B tier.
Ryan Grigson
Currently in his third season as the Minnesota Vikings’ senior vice president of player personnel, Ryan Grigson is one of the most accomplished general candidates the Jets have expressed interest in.
Grigson, 52, spent five seasons (2012-16) serving as the Indianapolis Colts general manager, compiling a 49-31 record.
Grigson completely revitalized the Colts organization after inheriting a 2-14 roster. Over his tenure, Indy enjoyed three consecutive winning seasons (2012-14), including two AFC South division titles, while logging a 3-3 record in the playoffs.
The 2012 Executive of the Year also selected some of the most accomplished Colts in franchise history, including wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (2012, third round), quarterback Andrew Luck (2012, first round), and center Ryan Kelly (2013, first round).
The main knock from Grigson’s time in Indy is not being able to build a stable offensive line to protect quarterback Andrew Luck, ultimately forcing the signal-caller to retire at 29 years old. It wasn’t for a lack of effort, as Grigson selected 10 offensive linemen across his five drafts, but most were whiffs outside of Kelly.
However, if Grigson were to land in Florham Park, he wouldn’t need to build an entire offensive line. Instead, he would likely need to add only one more piece, as four of the Jets’ five starting offensive linemen for the 2025 season are already in place (left tackle Olu Fashanu, left guard John Simpson, center Joe Tippmann, and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker).
I would consider Grigson an above-average hire for the Jets, given his winning experience as a general manager and his track record of taking a losing team and guiding it back to glory.
A Tier
Thomas Dimitroff
Thomas Dimitroff served as the Atlanta Falcons’ general manager from 2008-20, compiling a 113-95 record while leading the team to six playoff appearances (4-6 record) and a Super Bowl berth in 2016.
Before becoming a general manager, Dimitroff spent 24 seasons working as a scout with several teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, and the New England Patriots, with whom he won two Super Bowls.
During his time with the Falcons, Dimitroff played a significant role in the team’s success. Inheriting a team that went 4-12 in 2007 and had gone three straight years without a winning record, Dimitroff immediately turned the Falcons into winners, leading them to an 11-5 season in 2008. Over his 13-year tenure, Atlanta enjoyed seven winning seasons and drafted several cornerstone players.
During his time with the Falcons, Dimitroff drafted 11 Pro Bowlers, including players who became franchise legends in Atlanta:
- QB Matt Ryan (2008, 1st Round, 3rd Overall)
- WR Julio Jones (2011, 1st Round, 6th Overall)
- OT Jake Matthews (2014, 1st Round, 6th Overall)
- RB Devonta Freeman (2014, 4th Round, 103rd Overall)
- CB Ricardo Allen (2014, 5th Round, 147th Overall)
- DT Grady Jarrett (2015, 5th Round, 137th Overall)
- DE Vic Beasley (2015, 1st Round, 8th Overall)
- LB Deion Jones (2016, 2nd Round, 52nd Overall)
- S Keanu Neal (2016, 1st Round, 17th Overall)
- WR Justin Hardy (2015, 4th Round, 118th Overall)
- G Chris Lindstrom (2019, 1st Round, 14th Overall)
Dimitroff’s draft classes were impressive. He maximized his early-round picks while selecting several day-three Pro Bowlers.
Hiring Dimitroff would be a bold step in the right direction for New York as they aim to return to the playoffs for the first time in well over a decade. His proven track record of quickly turning a struggling team into a contender and his eye for talent in the draft make him a captivating candidate for the Jets general manager vacancy.
- A tier: Thomas Dimitroff
- B tier: Ryan Grigson, Mike Greenberg, Brian Gaine
- C tier: Jon-Eric Sullivan, Alec Halaby, Mike Borgonzi, Jon Robinson, Trey Brown
- D tier: Ray Farmer
- F tier: Jim Nagy, Louis Riddick
