We’re a little more than halfway through the 2024 NFL season, but we’ve already seen the first general manager fired. The New York Jets parted ways with general manager Joe Douglas on Nov. 19 — about one month earlier than the first GM was let go in 2023 (Los Angeles Chargers GM Tom Telesco on Dec. 15).
Below is a list of every GM who has been fired this year, with a recap of their tenure, plus a look at the general managers who are on the hot seat. We’ll continue to update this list as more GMs are fired.
NFL General Managers Fired in 2024
Joe Douglas, New York Jets
The first general manager fired in 2024 was the Jets’ Joe Douglas. Head coach Robert Saleh was fired after the team’s 2-3 start, and Douglas was later let go on Nov. 19.
The Jets were 30-64 in Douglas’ six seasons as the top executive. New York’s .319 winning percentage was the worst of all 32 teams over that span (2019-present).
Perhaps no general manager had a greater mixed bag of moves than Douglas throughout his stint as the Jets’ general manager.
Douglas sold high on safety Jamal Adams in 2020, in which the Jets got a massive haul for a disgruntled player who hasn’t returned to his All-Pro-form since. In the 2022 NFL Draft, Douglas drafted the eventual Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year, Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, respectively, while also selecting standout running back Breece Hall in the second round.
Douglas’ misses, however, might outweigh his hits. Most notably, he whiffed on quarterback Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and only one player remains from his 2020 draft class (backup safety Ashtyn Davis).
In six seasons, Douglas failed to help the Jets snap their postseason drought.
NFL GMs on the Hot Seat
Trent Baalke, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trent Baalke was a rare re-tread hire by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021, as NFL executives rarely get a second chance at being a general manager.
Following a six-year stint as the San Francisco 49ers’ general manager, Baalke joined the Jaguars’ front office in 2020 and eventually got promoted to replace former GM Dave Caldwell.
Since taking over as Jacksonville’s GM, Baalke has been criticized for over-investing in non-premium positions such as linebacker and tight end. Yet, his biggest mistake might have come in the 2022 NFL Draft.
With the No. 1 overall pick, Baalke made a surprising choice in EDGE Travon Walker over Aidan Hutchinson. Several years later, it appears to be the wrong decision.
Giving Trevor Lawrence a five-year, $275 million deal (with $200 million guaranteed) that made him one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks is also looking like a mistake.
Entering this season, Jaguars owner Shad Khan described this as “the best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars ever” after making some key offseason additions (Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, Arik Armstead, etc.). Given the team’s struggles, Baalke is now on “a scorching hot seat,” reports NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Joe Schoen, New York Giants
In Joe Schoen’s first season with the New York Giants in 2022, they made a surprise playoff berth and pulled off an upset win over the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round.
Since then, though, it has only gone downhill for Schoen.
Signing quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract has been Schoen’s most notable mistake. As documented in “Hard Knocks,” he tried and failed to move up in the 2024 NFL Draft to find Jones’ replacement, instead settling on giving his quarterback a much-needed No. 1 wide receiver in Malik Nabers.
While Schoen has mismanaged the quarterback situation, he deserves credit for building one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, led by Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Brian Burns.
But with Jones getting benched and the Giants struggling once again, are Schoen’s days in New York numbered?