Feb 28, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Reports: Jets fire general manager Joe Douglas

The New York Jets’ season of upheaval continued Tuesday with the reported firing of general manager Joe Douglas.

The Jets (3-8) fired head coach Robert Saleh on Oct. 8 and are 1-5 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.

New York headed into its bye week with a 28-27 loss at home against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Douglas, 48, signed a six-year contract to become the Jets GM in June 2019. Since then, New York has compiled a record of 30-64 with zero playoff appearances, continuing a drought that dates back to 2010.

This season began with Super Bowl aspirations as four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers returned from an Achilles injury. Instead, the offense ranks 26th in the NFL in scoring (18.5 ppg) and yards (294.4).

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2021; London, England, United Kingdom; A general overall view of Wilson official NFL Duke footballs on display at Tottenham Hogspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Former Bears, Colts GM Bill Tobin dies at 83

Longtime NFL executive Bill Tobin, a former general manager of the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts, has died at the age of 83.

He later worked as a scout from 2003-22 for the Cincinnati Bengals, who announced Tobin’s passing on Friday.

“He was a true NFL success story,” Bengals president Mike Brown said. “He was a good person and I considered him a good friend. With Bill, I respected everything he said. I just took it as a given. He had an eye for players and what they would develop into. If he said the guy was a good player, then he was a good player; that’s all I would need to know. We will miss him.”

Tobin served as GM of the Bears from 1987-92 and held the same role with the Colts from 1994-96. He was the Detroit Lions’ director of player personnel from 2001-02.

“Rest in peace, Bill Tobin, our GM from ’94-96,” Colts owner Jim Irsay wrote on Twitter. “Bill was a tough, old-time football man, starting as a player in the old AFL. He lived a magical life associated with the game he loved, and our league will miss him. My love and prayers for Bill’s family.”

During his 27 years in NFL front offices with Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit, Tobin’s teams drafted eight future Hall of Famers, according to the Bengals’ news release. That includes two Colts’ first-rounders, running back Marshall Faulk in 1994 and receiver Marvin Harrison in 1996.

Tobin’s son, Duke, has been the Bengals’ director of player personnel since 1999.

Tobin’s brother, Vince, was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 1996-2000.

Bill Tobin was a running back at Missouri and was drafted in the 14th round by the San Francisco 49ers in 1963. He played in 10 games (eight starts) with the Houston Oilers in 1963, rushing for 271 yards and four touchdowns and catching 13 passes for 173 yards and one score.

–Field Level Media

Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft addresses media at a press conference announcing the hiring of Jerod Mayo as the team's new head coach at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Patriots plan to take time to hire GM

The New England Patriots appear to be in no rush to fill the vacant general manager position in the wake of the departure of former head coach Bill Belichick, CBS Sports reported on Saturday.

Per the report, the Patriots have made no effort to interview external candidates for the vacant position.

The Patriots haven’t had a general manager since Belichick was hired in January 2000. According to league rules, the GM position can be left vacant all season.

Recent reported front office hires and comments by team owner Robert Kraft suggest the Patriots are more concerned about the short-term when it comes to executive positions.

Earlier this week, Eliot Wolf was promoted from scouting director to the No. 1 executive in charge of personnel, NFL Network reported Wednesday.

Wolf, 41, whose title is unclear, will have control of the 53-man roster while working closely with new head coach Jerod Mayo, according to reports. Wolf joined the Patriots in 2020 as a consultant before later being elevated to director of scouting in 2022.

Also this week, Alonzo Highsmith left the Miami Hurricanes to join the New England Patriots as a senior personnel executive.

Highsmith, who turns 59 later this month, has been the general manager of football operations for the Hurricanes the past two seasons. His addition reunites him with Wolf, with whom he worked at Green Bay and Cleveland earlier in their careers.

In other moves, director of player personnel Matt Groh is expected to run college scouting and Pat Stewart will have a leading role, per NFL Network.

In January, while introducing Mayo, Kraft indicated that Belichick’s influence over the past two-plus decades translates to a lot of existing in-house experience for the Patriots’ front office.

“We have a lot of people internally who have had a chance to train and learn under the greatest coach of all time and a man whose football intellect is very special,” Kraft said last month, when asked who will be handing out contracts and making draft picks.

“So, in the short-term, we’re looking for collaboration… We’re counting on our internal people, whom we’re still learning and evaluating. So, we’re going to let that evolve and develop, and before the key decisions have to be made, we will appoint someone.”

However, Kraft did not specifically say what position someone would be appointed to, and Wolf has yet to be officially introduced.

–Field Level Media

Jul 26, 2023; Costa Mesa, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers helmet of long snapper Josh Harris (47) during training camp at Jack Hammet Sports Comples. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Chargers name Joe Hortiz general manager

The Los Angeles Chargers named Baltimore Ravens personnel director Joe Hortiz as the team’s general manager on Tuesday.

Per the Chargers, Hortiz will oversee all player personnel and scouting matters, including free agency and the NFL draft.

Hortiz, 48, served in his current role with the Ravens since 2019, having worked for the team for 26 years. Baltimore’s head coach since 2008 has been John Harbaugh, the brother of new Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh.

“Joe is one of the most respected player evaluators and personnel minds in the league whose contributions to the Ravens front office over the past two decades cannot be overstated,” John Spanos, the Chargers’ president of football operations, said in a statement.

“When you consider his football IQ, eye for talent, ability to think both short and long term as it pertains to roster construction, organization, thoroughness and ability to be creative within the confines of our collective bargaining agreement, it’s hard not to be excited about the future. Factor in his experience working with two of the best in the business in (former Ravens GM) Ozzie Newsome and (current Ravens GM) Eric DeCosta and the consistency of performance that their teams have achieved, Joe is without a doubt the right person to help Coach Harbaugh and his staff build a team that will make Chargers fans proud.”

Teaming with Newsome and DeCosta, Hortiz helped shape two Super Bowl championship teams and a club that went an NFL-best 13-4 this season before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.

“When you’ve had the privilege of working with one organization your entire career, something that’s exceedingly rare in our business, the opportunity and fit has to pretty much be perfect to consider a change,” Hortiz said. “This is that opportunity — the Chargers’ brand, the uniforms, foundational building blocks already on the roster, a new training facility, SoFi Stadium and a clear commitment from the Spanos family to dedicating every resource possible towards bringing a Lombardi Trophy home to our fans — it’s all there. Then of course, having known the Harbaugh family for all these years and the chance to continue that special relationship in this new role, I truly could not be more fortunate.”

Tom Telesco was the Chargers’ general manager until Dec. 15, when he and head coach Brandon Staley were fired after a 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders dropped Los Angeles’ record to 5-9. The Chargers went 0-3 under interim head coach Giff Smith to finish the season.

The Raiders hired Telesco as their general manager last week.

Los Angeles finished 18th in total offense this season (329.4 yards per game), 21st in scoring offense (20.4 points per game), 28th in total defense (362.9 ypg) and 24th in scoring defense (23.4 ppg).

–Field Level Media

Aug 13, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco watches during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Raiders hiring Tom Telesco as GM

Tom Telesco is staying in the AFC West Division, as the Las Vegas Raiders are preparing to hire the longtime Chargers general manager to the same position, NFL Network and ESPN reported Tuesday.

Telesco, 51, led the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers’ front office from 2013-23 before the franchise dismissed both him and coach Brandon Staley after a disastrous 63-21 loss in Week 15 — to the rival Raiders.

During Telesco’s tenure as GM, the Chargers made the playoffs just three times in 11 seasons and never got past the divisional round, despite working with quarterbacks Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert. The Chargers went 84-92 during his tenure.

The Raiders finished the 2023 season 8-9, three games better than the Chargers (who lost Herbert to a Week 14 injury). Before hiring Telesco, they installed interim coach Antonio Pierce as their full-time boss after Pierce took over midseason for Josh McDaniels.

Telesco replaces David Ziegler, who was fired in November along with McDaniels.

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A Washington Commanders helmet on the sideline against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Commanders hiring 49ers’ Adam Peters as GM

The Washington Commanders are hiring San Francisco 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters as their new general manager, multiple outlets reported Friday.

Peters and Chicago Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham were the reported finalists after completing the first round of interviews on Wednesday.

Peters, 44, has been with the 49ers since 2017 following stints with the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. He joined San Francisco as the vice president of player personnel and was promoted to assistant GM in 2021.

Working for general manager John Lynch, Peters helped the 49ers construct one of the NFL’s most talented rosters. Recent highlights include selecting quarterback Brock Purdy with the last pick in the 2022 draft and acquiring star running back Christian McCaffrey in an October 2022 trade with the Carolina Panthers.

The 49ers (12-5) earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs this year. The Commanders (4-13) were last in the NFC East and missed the playoffs for the seventh time in eight seasons.

The primary challenges for Peters will be hiring a new coach to replace Ron Rivera, who was fired on Monday by owner Josh Harris, and deciding whether 2022 fifth-round pick Sam Howell is the long-term answer at quarterback.

Martin Mayhew has been the Commanders’ general manager for the past three seasons. His status with the organization has not been determined, according to NFL Network.

–Field Level Media

Aug 13, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA;  Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, left, and general manager Ryan Poles walk off the field after the Bears defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 19-14 at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Bears GM: Bidding for No. 1 pick begins at two first-rounders

No general manager cheered top quarterback performances at the NFL Scouting Combine more than Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears.

Chicago owns the No. 1 pick in the draft for the first time since 1947 but Poles, in his second season with the franchise, has no intention of drafting any of the quarterbacks who are in high demand atop the 2023 draft in April.

Any team can have the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and Poles made the asking price crystal clear over the past week.

“I’m blessed to be able to read people,” Poles said in an interview with NBC Sports. “I can feel it. There’s urgency out there. There’s pressure.”

Reports indicate at least three teams have offers on the table to the Bears: the Houston Texans, who pick second and 12th overall in 2023; the Indianapolis Colts, who pick at No. 4 and No. 35; and the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle has a bonus first-round pick, No. 5, as a result of the Russell Wilson trade last year, as well as the No. 20 pick.

Poles, 37, doesn’t need to act with any urgency. Picks in the next three drafts can be used in trades only after the 2023 league year begins March 15. If Poles waits until draft day, 2026 draft picks can also be included.

The Bears are comfortable at quarterback with developing 2021 first-rounder Justin Fields. And with $100 million in salary cap space, the Bears are in position to assure the rebuild under way has some staying power. Moving lower than the No. 2 pick in a trade with the Texans would bring the risk for Poles that his preferred player is picked by the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3. Like Chicago, the Cardinals aren’t in this QB market.

“No one’s gonna rush me,” Poles said. “I know I can get a ‘24 one and a ‘25 one. You’re telling me for the next two years I’ll have two ones? That’s either four really good players, or if we’re cruising, we can still trade back.”

Poles is operating without a second-round pick in 2023. The Bears traded theirs, which turned out to be No. 32 overall, to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the October deadline for wide receiver Chase Claypool. When Miami forfeited its first-round pick due to tampering, the first pick of the second round became No. 32.

That intel might be good news for the Colts, who could offer No. 4 and No. 35 for No. 1.

The Texans have trump cards at nearly every turn with capital returned from the Cleveland Browns and the Deshaun Watson trade last year. In addition to the second pick and No. 12 from Cleveland, Houston has an extra third-round pick from the Browns and five of the top 73 selections in this draft.

Should Seattle veer to make a move out of general manager John Schneider’s typical lane of moving back and collecting value, this could be the year. Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll chirped of the rare opportunity and decided interest in quarterbacks in this class, which might also be calculated public discourse to entice a trade offer from another QB-needy team.

But Seattle picks fifth, 20th and 37th, with five total picks in the top 83.

The Raiders (seventh) and Panthers (ninth) are also known to be in the QB market.

“The interesting part is having a conversation with one team, and then one hour later another team texts you wanting in on the trade and they’re not afraid of what the floor of what you’re asking for is,” Poles said.

–Field Level Media

Jul 27, 2022; Owings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) speaks with the media after day one of training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens WR Rashod Bateman to GM: ‘Stop pointing the finger at us’

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman blasted general manager Eric DeCosta’s self-assessment that he hasn’t fared well at the position in recent drafts.

“If I had an answer, that would probably mean I would have some better receivers. … We’re gonna keep swinging,” DeCosta said on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

“There have been some guys that have been successful players for us that were draft picks. We’ve never really hit on that All-Pro type of guy, which is disappointing, but it’s not for a lack of effort. … It’s one of those anomalies that I really can’t explain, other than to say that we’re not going to stop trying.”

That answer didn’t sit well with Bateman, who took to Twitter on Thursday before later deleting the tweet.

“How bout you play to your player’s strength and & stop pointing the finger at us and #8 (quarterback Lamar Jackson) … blame the one you let do this … we take heat 24/7,” Bateman wrote. “And keep us healthy … care about US & see what happen..ain’t no promises tho … tired of y’all lyin and capn on players for no reason.”

Injuries have played a role in the first two NFL seasons for Bateman, who was selected by the Ravens with the 27th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. He had 46 catches for 515 yards and one touchdown in 12 games during his rookie season, and 15 receptions for 285 yards and two scores in 2022.

Tight end Mark Andrews led the Ravens in catches (73), receiving yards (847) and touchdown receptions (five) last season. Demarcus Robinson led the team’s wide receivers in catches (48) and receiving yards (458), while Devin Duvernay had three touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Nov 6, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Tennessee Titans helmet against the Kansas City Chiefs prior to the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Titans hire Ran Carthon as general manager

The Tennessee Titans are hiring San Francisco 49ers director of player personnel Ran Carthon to be their next general manager, multiple reports said Tuesday.

Carthon, who turns 42 next month, is a former NFL running back who has also served as a scout for the Atlanta Falcons and director of player personnel for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams.

Carthon had been with San Francisco since May 2017. He started as the director of pro personnel before being promoted to director of player personnel ahead of the 2021 season.

The Titans began the 2022 season 7-3 before losing their final seven games to bottom out at 7-10 and miss the playoffs. During that slide, they fired general manager Jon Robinson on Dec. 6, 10 months after giving him a contract extension.

Another candidate for Tennessee was its own director of player personnel, Monti Ossenfort, but Ossenfort was hired as the Arizona Cardinals’ general manager on Monday.

Carthon appeared in nine NFL games across 2005 and 2006 for the Indianapolis Colts. He scored two touchdowns among his 16 carries in those games. He played collegiately at Florida.

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view od Arizona Cardinals helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals hire Titans’ Monti Ossenfort as new general manager

The Arizona Cardinals tapped Monti Ossenfort as their new general manager on Monday.

Ossenfort was the Tennessee Titans’ director of player personnel for the past three seasons. Before that, he worked in scouting for the New England Patriots for 15 seasons and the Houston Texans for two.

Arizona had a vacancy after longtime GM Steve Keim stepped down last week. Keim had signed a contract extension last spring but needed to take time away from the team in December due to health concerns.

The Cardinals also fired coach Kliff Kingsbury this month, and Ossenfort’s first task will be to work with owner Michael Bidwill on hiring his replacement.

“It was critically important for us to find the right person to lead us as General Manager and there is no doubt in my mind that we have that in Monti Ossenfort,” Bidwill said in a statement. “He possesses every attribute of a successful GM — passion, leadership, intelligence, work ethic — and his extensive experience has clearly prepared him for this role. We could not be more thrilled to have Monti and his family joining the Cardinals.”

Ossenfort also interviewed for the Titans’ own GM vacancy, created when they fired Jon Robinson in December.

–Field Level Media