Jets interview Jon-Eric Sullivan and Brian Gaine for their GM vacancy
Jon-Eric Sullivan speaks in Green Bay, Wis., Thursday, April 26, 2018, about the Packers' pick in the first round of the NFL football draft. Credit: AP/Mike Roemer
The Jets interviewed someone from Aaron Rodgers’ past and someone from theirs for their general manager position on Tuesday.
Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan and Bills assistant general manager Brian Gaine were the latest league executives to meet with the Jets about their vacancy.
Gaine was a member of the Jets’ practice team in 1996. He began his NFL front office/personnel career with the Jets as a scout from 1999-2004 under Bill Parcells and Terry Bradway.
The Jets are conducting a very thorough search for their general manager and head coach openings. Nine candidates have interviewed for the Jets coaching vacancy with more to come this week. They now have spoken to 15 candidates for the GM post.
Sullivan and Gaine join Thomas Dimitroff, Jon Robinson, Jim Nagy, Louis Riddick, Alec Halaby, Mike Borgonzi, Bellmore’s Mike Greenberg, Ray Farmer, Chris Spielman, Ryan Grigson, Trey Brown, Darren Mougey and Lance Newmark.
The Jets are expected to zero in on their top choices and line up second interviews with some of the general manager candidates. They could hire someone later this week. Borgonzi and Sullivan are going on second interviews with the Tennessee Titans for their general manager job.
Gaine has worked for the Bills for the past six seasons – three as assistant general manager and three as senior personnel advisor. The Bills have made the postseason each year, winning five straight AFC East titles.
Gaine, who grew up in Pearl River, N.Y., was the Houston Texans general manager in 2018. They went 11-5 and made the playoffs, but he was fired after the season. Gaine previously worked as the Texans director of player personnel.
He also worked in the front office of the Cowboys and Dolphins, joining Parcells on both teams.
Sullivan started with the Packers as a scouting intern in 2003. He's been the vice president of player personnel for three seasons. Sullivan also has been Green Bay's director of college scouting and co-director of player personnel.
He has worked closely with former Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson and current GM Brian Gutenkist Gutekunst over the last 21 years with the franchise. Sullivan played a big role in the Packers drafting quarterback Jordan Love in 2020.
Love’s development gave the Packers the confidence to move on from Rodgers, a four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer who spent 18 years in Green Bay. The Packers traded Rodgers to the Jets in 2023. Love has led the Packers to back-to-back playoff berths. The Jets have missed the playoffs 14 straight years.
Rodgers’ future as a Jet and in the NFL is up in the air. He has not committed to returning in 2025. The Jets haven’t told Rodgers they want him back. That likely will be determined by whomever the Jets hire to be their general manager and head coach.
Sullivan's father, Jerry Sullivan, is a retired offensive coach who worked for 25 years in the NFL and more than 20 in college.
Robert Saleh meets with Jaguars
Former Jets coach Robert Saleh interviewed for the head coaching position in Jacksonville. He spent three years as the Jaguars linebackers coach from 2014 through 2017.
Saleh will interview with the Raiders later this week for their head coach opening. He’s already met with the 49ers about their defensive coordinator job. Saleh is a leading candidate for the San Francisco job unless he hired as a head coach.
The Jets fired Saleh in October after a 2-3 start. He went 20-36 in three-plus seasons as Jets coach.
Two-minute drill
The Jets signed kicker Anders Carlson and tight end Neal Johnson to reserve/future contracts. Carlson kicked in five games for the Jets this season, making 8 of 10 field goals and 9 of 11 extra points.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
