Jets hire executive to lead search for new GM, source says

The Jets have hired a firm to lead the search for a general manager to replace Mike Tannenbaum, a source says. Tannenbaum has held the position since 2006 but is expected to be fired after the season.

By Lisa Zimmerman

Dec 30, 2012 at 12:58 pm ET • 1 min read

The New York Jets have hired Jed Hughes of Korn/Ferry International to lead their search for a new general manager to replace Mike Tannenbaum, according to a league source. Hughes is the vice chairman of the sports sector of the Korn/Ferry, which is an international, executive recruiting company. The Jets also used Korn/Ferry when they hired current team president Neil Glatt.

It has been reported for the past week that the Jets were planning to move on from Tannenbaum.

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The Jets declined comment, per their organizational policy of not speaking about personnel moves during the season.

The Jets (6-9) will finish the season with a losing record for the first time since coach Rex Ryan was hired in 2009. Tannenbaum has been criticized for many of his personnel moves, including the trade for quarterback Tim Tebow and several of the team's large, long-term deals -- most notably, the contracts for wide receiver Santonio Holmes and quarterback Mark Sanchez , which have handcuffed the team as far as their cap flexibility.

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Tannenbaum, who joined the Jets in 1997 as director of player contract negotiations was elevated to general manager in 2006, replacing Terry Bradway, who has remained with the team as a senior personnel executive. The team has gone to the playoffs three times in that time period -- the wild card game in 2006 and the AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010.

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