Jets find GM to pair with Aaron Glenn by landing Darren Mougey

The Jets ended their long search for a new general manager Saturday, hiring Darren Mougey with new head coach Aaron Glenn, a source confirmed.

Mougey has been the Broncos assistant GM since 2022.

The 39-year-old has been with the Broncos since 2012, rising from scouting intern to assistant GM.

Mougey has worked under two different GMs – John Elway and current boss George Paton.

He has been part of a Super Bowl-winning team in 2015 and helped the Broncos get back to the playoffs this season despite having a league-high $89 million in dead money on the salary cap.

That number cut down on the team’s margin for error in its offseason moves, and the front office couldn’t afford many misses.

The Arizona native attended San Diego State, where he was teammates with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell.

Mougey is 6-foot-6 and is said to have a presence about him when he walks into a room.

He is known as a good communicator and has survived six different head coaches in Denver.

The Jets hired Glenn on Wednesday as their new head coach.

It is not known if Glenn and Mougey have significant connections outside of both working with Broncos coach Sean Payton, who Glenn worked with in New Orleans.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Mougey was part of Denver’s 2022 search committee when the Broncos interviewed Glenn for the head coaching vacancy.

The Jets interviewed 15 candidates for their GM opening. Mougey did not interview until January 11.

He had another interview on Thursday.

The Jets also interviewed Bengals Senior Personnel Executive Trey Brown and Commanders Assistant GM Lance Newmark a second time.

The Jets replace Joe Douglas, who held the job from 2019 until November, when he was fired midseason. The Jets fired Douglas to jumpstart their GM search.

The team hired the 33rd team to help with both their search for a GM and coach.

Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and former Vikings GM Rick Spielman helped the Jets draft the list of candidates and in the interviews.

Jets owner Woody Johnson led the search and ultimately made the decisions.

His brother, team vice chairman Christopher Johnson and team president Hymie Elhai also played integral roles in the search.

Mougey and Glenn have some tough decisions to make immediately.

They need to figure out if quarterback Aaron Rodgers should return for a third season with the Jets.

Rodgers has said he is considering retirement, but if he returns the Jets would be his first choice.

Wide receiver Davante Adams is under contract, but his deal will have to be reworked if he returns. Adams’ future could be tied to Rodgers.

Then there are the young stars.

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner are eligible for contract extensions as they enter their fourth seasons.

Wilson was clearly frustrated in 2024, and there are fears he could ask for a trade if he doesn’t get a new contract.

Wilson has not said so, but there has been speculation.

Do the Jets give him that monster contract now or push it?

Mougey has the No. 1 overall pick. 7 in April’s NFL draft, and the Jets have eight picks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrqpogmhhgc

The Jets are currently projecting $20 million in payroll, According to over the hoodbut it could increase significantly if the team makes a few cuts.

The Jets have been in a state of not knowing who the boss should be since Johnson fired Robert Saleh on Oct. 8. Now the team knows that Glenn and Mougey will lead the way.