Jets find GM to pair with Aaron Glenn by landing Darren Mougey

The Jets completed their long search for a new general manager on Saturday, hiring Darren Mougey to pair with new head coach Aaron Glenn, a source confirmed. 

Mougey has been the Broncos assistant GM since 2022.

The 39-year-old has been with the Broncos since 2012, rising from scouting intern to assistant GM. 

Mougey has worked under two different GMs — John Elway and current boss George Paton.

Darren Mougey in 2022. Denver Post via Getty Images

He has been a part of a Super Bowl-winning team in 2015 and helped the Broncos get back to the playoffs this season despite having a league-high $89 million in dead money on the salary cap.

That number cut the margin of error down for the team in its offseason moves and the front office could not afford many misses. 

The Arizona native attended San Diego State, where he was teammates with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell.

Mougey is 6-foot-6 and is said to have a presence about him when he walks into a room.

He is known as a good communicator and has survived six different head coaches in Denver. 

Darren Mougey is joining the Jets after leaving Denver. Denver Post via Getty Images

The Jets hired Glenn on Wednesday as their new head coach.

It is not known if Glenn and Mougey have significant connections outside of both working with Broncos coach Sean Payton, whom Glenn worked with in New Orleans.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Mougey was part of Denver’s search committee in 2022 when the Broncos interviewed Glenn for the head coaching vacancy. 

The Jets interviewed 15 candidates for their GM opening. Mougey first interviewed on Jan. 11.

Aaron Glenn has restored hope around the Jets. Getty Images

He had a second interview on Thursday.

The Jets also interviewed Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown and Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark a second time. 

The Jets are replacing Joe Douglas, who held the job from 2019 until November when he was fired in midseason. The Jets fired Douglas to get a jump start on their GM search. 

The team hired The 33rd Team to assist in both their search for a GM and coach.

Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and former Vikings GM Rick Spielman assisted the Jets with compiling the list of candidates and in the interviews.

Jets owner Woody Johnson led the search and ultimately made the decisions.

His brother, team vice chairman Christopher Johnson and team president Hymie Elhai also played integral roles in the search. 

Mougey while serving as San Diego State’s QB in 2006. Getty Images

Mougey and Glenn have some tough decisions to make immediately.

They must figure out whether quarterback Aaron Rodgers should return for a third season with the Jets.

Rodgers has said he is contemplating retirement, but if he does return the Jets would be his first choice.

Wide receiver Davante Adams is under contract but his deal will need to be reworked if he returns. Adams’ future could be tied to Rodgers. 

Darren Mougey looks on as players take part in drills at NFL football training camp Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Englewood, Colo. AP

Then, there are the young stars.

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner are eligible for contract extensions as they enter their fourth seasons.

Wilson was clearly frustrated in 2024 and there is a fear he could ask for a trade if he does not get a new contract.

Wilson has not said that but there has been speculation.

Do the Jets give him that monster contract now or push it? 

Mougey will have the No. 7 overall pick in April’s NFL draft and the Jets have eight picks.

The Jets currently project to have $20 million in salary cap space, according to Over The Cap, but that can increase significantly if the team makes a few cuts. 

The Jets have been in a state of not knowing who the boss was going to be since Johnson fired Robert Saleh on Oct. 8. Now, the team knows that Glenn and Mougey will lead the way.

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