Eagles executive named candidate to take over as GM for dumpster fire team in AFC

When an NFL franchise falls into disarray, and there are already a handful of them in 2024, the logical next step is to recruit talent from one of the league’s proven winners.

The Philadelphia Eagles are on that short list for dumpster-fire teams like the New York Jets, who have already fired head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas amid a disastrous 3-8 start. An in-season trade for Davante Adams has done little to fix the dysfunction surrounding the Jets and what’s been a failed Aaron Rodgers experiment.

NFL insider Jeremy Fowler recently discussed his top executive candidates to take over and clean up the Jets’ mess in 2025. Among those Fowler is eyeing is Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby.

Here was Fowler’s hearing in the wake of Douglas’ firing: “Well, an intriguing candidate has to actually want this Jets general manager job. This will not be the most desirable opening. But since general managers enjoy longer tenures than head coaches, and only 32 of these jobs exist, the candidate pool will be fairly strong. Winners are an easy place to start. Several executives play a pivotal role in the roster building and culture of contenders, including Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby, Bills director of player personnel Terrance Gray, Vikings senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson, Texans executive vice president of player personnel James Liipfert, Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew, Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl and Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander — a former lieutenant of Douglas’ in New York.”

Whether Halaby would want to leave the franchise he’s spent the past 16-plus years with to work for owner Woody Johnson is debatable. But the Jets looking to replicate the Eagles’ incredible track record of success in terms of roster-building would make sense.

Eagles GM Howie Roseman has crafted the secret sauce, and the rest of the league would love the recipe. Philly’s recent draft classes have been direct hits — with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean making 2024 potentially the best of the bunch. Cheap free agent finds like Zack Baun and Mekhi Becton in free agency this offseason is another feather in Roseman’s cap.

Halaby spoke this offseason on a wide range of topics, but one thing he made clear is that his only boss in almost two decades — Roseman — has shaped his vision on how to build an NFL roster. “I think Howie and I are pretty aligned,” he said. “I’ve been working under him for so long. I think we’re aligned in that respect. Without getting too much into the positional variation and details, I think what you see with the Eagles is fundamentally how I look at roster building as well.”

Johnson’s Jets need all the help they can get. Adopting the Eagles model would be a good start to what looks like a complete overhaul starting in 2025.

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