Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum (Jeff Zelevansky)
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This is one move Mike Tannenbaum could not talk Jets owner Woody Johnson out of making.
Johnson fired Tannenbaum as the team’s general manager yesterday morning after seven years on the job and nearly 16 with the organization.
“Our 2012 season was a disappointment to all of us,” Johnson said in a statement. “My goal every year as owner is to build a team that wins consistently. This year, we failed to achieve that goal.”
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While Tannenbaum was shown the door, Johnson announced head coach Rex Ryan will remain. Tannenbaum had been on shaky ground for a while. Much of the blame for the team’s 6-10 season was placed on him because a lack of talent was seen as the biggest flaw. After Sunday’s 28-9 season-ending loss in Buffalo, there was speculation Ryan might be fired as well.
Instead, he will have a new boss next year.
“I believe that he has the passion, the talent and the drive to successfully lead our team,” Johnson said of Ryan.
The Jets have hired Jed Hughes of the search firm Korn/Ferry International to lead the hunt for a new GM. Hughes previously led the search for the Seahawks GM.
The Jets already have begun contacting candidates. They requested, and were granted, permission to interview Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross and 49ers director of player personnel Tom Gamble, according to sources.
Both Ross and Gamble are considered hot candidates for several GM openings, so the Jets will have competition. Ross has overseen the Giants’ drafts since 2008.
Gamble was once a Jets assistant coach under Rich Kotite. He has helped build the 49ers into one of the best teams in football.
USA Today reported the Jets reached out to former Bills, Panthers and Colts GM Bill Polian last month to gauge his interest. The 70-year-old told them he had no interest, according to the report. Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta released a statement yesterday saying he wants to remain in Baltimore.
The 43-year-old Tannenbaum joined the team in 1997 and quickly became a favorite of coach Bill Parcells for his salary-cap expertise. He ascended to general manager in 2006 and his tenure included three trips to the playoffs, two AFC Championship Games and several splashy moves. He drafted stars Darrelle Revis, D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold and made the huge trade for Brett Favre in 2008. He missed on other moves like drafting Vernon Gholston at No. 6 overall in 2008 and trading for Tim Tebow this spring.
“While of course it is disappointing to not achieve the ultimate goal of winning a championship, I am incredibly proud of our overall winning record and success,” Tannenbaum said in a statement. “There are champions on this team that haven’t been crowned yet.”
Tannenbaum lost on several recent gambles, including the Tebow trade, giving Mark Sanchez a contract extension and re-signing Santonio Holmes to a huge deal. He had two years remaining on his contract.
At yesterday’s meeting, an emotional Tannenbaum read a letter to the team and said goodbye. The players clapped for him when he finished.
“Everybody gets evaluated,” Revis said. “In this business we get evaluated every week. It’s just the business side of it. He did great things here for us the last couple of years. I don’t know. It’s really sad.”
Ryan is now in a tenuous position. He has two years left on his deal, but will be on the hot seat in 2013 working for a new boss who did not hire him. Ryan’s scheduled press conference was canceled yesterday, fueling speculation that more changes on the coaching staff could be coming. Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano is expected to be fired, but no announcement was made.
The Jets players were happy Ryan will be back for a fifth season. His message to the team yesterday was it is on each individual to improve for next season.
“I know he has the passion and I know he has the drive to take us where we want to be and to get us into the postseason and make another run at the Super Bowl,” Sanchez said. “He’s my head coach. We’ve had a lot of wins together and I know there’s plenty more to come.”
—Additional reporting by Mark Cannizzaro and Paul Schwartz
brian.costello@nypost.com