The Jets finally may be ready to hire a general manager.
Seahawks vice president of football administration John Idzik reportedly is the Jets’ choice to replace Mike Tannenbaum, who was fired three weeks ago. ESPN reported Idzik could be offered the job as early as last night.
Idzik is one of the 10 people known to interview for the job over the last two weeks. He had a second interview this week, as the team pared its list.
The Jets were expected to turn to someone with a personnel background to replace Tannenbaum, whose expertise was in salary-cap management and contract negotiation. But Idzik has a similar background. According to the Seahawks’ website, Idzik “oversees player negotiations, the team’s compliance with the NFL salary cap, player personnel transactions, all football operations budgets, staff and team contracts, team travel and most aspects of the day-to-day football operations while also remaining active in player evaluations.”
League sources said Idzik’s involvement in player evaluations has been minimal, though. An interesting factor is Idzik represents the Seahawks at NFL meetings. Jets team president Neil Glat worked for the league before joining the Jets last year and could be familiar with Idzik through those league meetings.
Idzik has been with the Seahawks since 2007. Before that he spent three years as the Cardinals’ senior director of football operations. He has worked in the league since 1993, spending 11 years with the Buccaneers.
A Detroit native, Idzik graduated from Dartmouth in 1982 with a degree in mathematics. He played wide receiver in college and later coached for a short time in college and abroad.
Idzik has a family tie to the Jets. His father, also named John, was the team’s offensive coordinator from 1976-79.
Idzik and Steelers executive Omar Khan had second interviews this week with the Jets. Idzik was not in the Jets’ initial group of candidates. Only after Dave Caldwell chose the Jaguars over the Jets did he get an interview.
If Idzik does get the job, the biggest question is how personnel decisions will be made. Jets owner Woody Johnson said last week the GM would have final say over personnel, not coach Rex Ryan. But Idzik’s hiring is going to be interpreted as Ryan still having power over the team’s roster. It will be interesting to see if the Jets revamp their personnel department and if someone with a scouting background will be hired as an assistant to Idzik.
The Jets also have interviewed people from around the league about how to proceed. They have looked into how other organizations are structured and sought information on various philosophies.
A source said last night that former Saints and Dolphins GM Randy Mueller interviewed for the job last week. He is the 10th person known to interview for the job.