We\'ve known this for a few days but now it's official - the New York Jets have fired GM Mike Tannenbaum earlier today and will immediately start looking for his replacement. Head coach Rex Ryan will stay, according to Jets' owner Woody Johnson. Ryan has two years and approximately $6M remaining on his contract.
Johnson said he has consulted with "a number of football executives," adding that he has hired Korn/Ferry International, which will conduct the search for a new GM. It will be headed by Jed Hughes, who previously led the general manager search for the Seattle Seahawks.
Tannenbaum was promoted to GM in 2006 and was considered one of the NFL's top young executives when the Jets reached back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010. However, his questionable moves of late, such as leaving the team without a proven RT once Damien Woody retired, giving a ridiculous contract extension to QB Mark Sanchez, replacing pretty much the entire receiving corps and trading for QB Tim Tebow pretty much sealed his fate.
Under Tannenbaum, the Jets were 57-55 in seven seasons, reaching the playoffs three times but not since 2010, when they advanced to their second consecutive AFC Championship Game.