Both Champ Kelly and Scott Fitterer have accepted formal general manager interview requests with the New York Jets.
The needle is moving. While the needle comes in one of the slower varieties, it is, indeed, moving.
With Mike Maccagnan out, the New York Jets general manager position remains vacant. On Tuesday, two individuals have accepted formal interview requests for the prestigious football position.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports that Champ Kelly and Scott Fitterer are two men slated for interviews.
“The Jets’ GM search will rev up this week,” Breer claims. “I’m told it remains unclear if Minnesota exec George Paton will accept the interview, but both Chicago’s Champ Kelly and Seattle’s Scott Fitterer are going to meet with the Jets. Fitterer’s interview is set for Thursday and Friday in New Jersey.”
Kelly is currently the Chicago Bears assistant director of player personnel. Fitterer, on the other hand, is the Seattle Seahawks co-director of player personnel.
The reported top target, Philadelphia Eagles vice president of player personnel, Joe Douglas, isn’t scheduled for an interview. Why? Well, most speculate it comes down to the Jets relenting control over the roster.
Douglas wants final say. Even chatter around the league has the Eagles not allowing Douglas to head to New York unless he receives control.
Right now, it appears the Jets don’t want to give up control to a lone voice. The power structure remains status quo, with the general manager and head coach on the same level, both reporting to the owner. It’s a common hierarchy in the NFL, but sometimes, without one final voice, things can become a bit sticky (i.e. Adam Gase and Mike Maccagnan).
Fitterer has been in Seattle since 2015, while Kelly just finished his second season as the assistant director after serving two seasons as the Bears director of pro scouting.
