NEW ORLEANS – Rick Spielman is sticking around with the Jets.
The former Vikings general manager, who assisted with the Jets search for a new general manager and head coach, has been hired as a senior football adviser by the Jets, he announced on the “With the First Pick: An NFL Draft Podcast” from CBS Sports.
“What I’m doing, I’m going to be helping in any way that I can with Aaron Glenn, with Darren Mougey, the new general manager,” Spielman said. “Right now, my biggest project is trying to rebuild the football operations side of things. So, there are a lot of changes going on up there, and I kind of feel honored and privileged that they called me and asked me to be a part of it going forward.”
Spielman helped Jets owner Woody Johnson with the hiring process along with former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum as part of The 33rd Team.
Spielman has a link to Mougey through Broncos GM George Paton, who served as Spielman’s assistant in Minnesota. Mougey then worked as Paton’s assistant in Denver.
While Spielman will have a voice in the organization, he made it clear that he won’t be the one calling the shots.
“Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey are the final decision makers,” he said. “I’m just there as their sounding board to help them and support them in any way.”
Spielman, 62, was the Vikings GM from 2012-21. He also served as the Dolphins GM in 2004.
There were rumors that Spielman and/or Tannenbaum could join the Jets after the search process was over. Several GM candidates had concerns about that as a possibility.
Mougey may feel comfortable with Spielman because of the connection through Paton.
