The search for the new general manager for the New York Jets is officially underway as Woody Johnson has completed his first two interviews in search of a GM.

Earlier this week the Jets spoke with former Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff and then with former Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson on Tuesday. The Jets are able to speak and meet with GM candidates who are currently not under contract with other teams. Interviews with candidates currently employed by other teams must wait until after the season is over.

With Dimitroff in charge, Atlanta posted a 113-95 record, reached the playoffs six times, won the NFC in 2016 and watched QB Matt Ryan, who Dimitroff drafted, win NFL MVP honors under the direction of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. That season ended with a magical run to the Super Bowl of which they ultimately lost to the New England Patriots. A year later, Atlanta fell short of returning to the Super Bowl, losing to the Eagles in the Divisional Round.

Despite the run of success, things began to fall apart in Atlanta over the next few seasons. The Falcons posted consecutive 7-9 finishes in 2018 and 2019 and bottomed out in 2020, ending that campaign 4-12. Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn were both fired following an 0-5 start to that season.

Dimitroff has been out of the NFL since his October 2020 firing. Since then, he's served as president of football operations for SumerSports, a data-driven platform established to aid front office personnel in decision making at both the professional and collegiate levels.

With nearly 30 years of NFL experience under his belt, Dimitroff is exploring a potential return with a franchise that could certainly use an experienced leader as their guide. I pointed him out earlier as a possibility for the Jets GM job given his experience.

The 48-year-old Robinson was the Titans’ general manager from 2016 until he was fired in the 2022 season. Tennessee was 66-43 with him overseeing the team, which made the playoffs four times and won the AFC South twice during his tenure. Robinson didn’t have a losing season during his first six seasons as GM of the Titans. Among his top draft picks were running back Derrick Henry and offensive tackle Jack Conklin in 2016, and wide receiver A.J. Brown in 2019.

Robinson was Tampa Bay’s director of player personnel for three seasons before being hired by Tennessee. He previously worked in New England’s scouting department for 11 years.

Many point to Robinson’s connection with Mike Vrabel as a reason for the Jets to be interested in the former GM, who worked with Vrabel in Tennessee. The Jets are thought to be high on Vrabel and the feeling is mutual, provided the Jets make the right GM hire.

Robinson was highly criticized for not being able to work out a deal with A.J. Brown and trading him to Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL draft in 2022. The move was opposed by Vrabel, so Robinson and Vrabel might not be a slam-dunk connection.

The Jets have a few good foundational pieces, as well as a few players that may need a little fence mending, but the ultimate job for whoever takes the job will be to find the head coach and the quarterback who can get this team to the playoffs, where they haven’t been since 2010.

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