New York Jets CEO and chairman Christopher Johnson said he is looking for a general manager who is a “great strategic thinker” and can work with head coach Adam Gase.
After the Jets dismissed Mike Maccagnan on Wednesday and handed Gase the interim GM tag, Johnson said he was not looking for a traditional general manager.
Rumors immediately began circulating around the NFL that Peyton Manning could check both of those boxes.
“I want a great strategic thinker. It’s more than a talent-evaluation guy,” Johnson said. “I want a great manager, a communicator, someone who can collaborate well with the building. I’m convinced we’re going to find that person.”
Manning, 43, periodically has been linked to management openings since retiring after the 2015 season.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said Gase “would be one of the few guys who could draw Manning back into football.”
Manning was the starting quarterback in Denver for the last four seasons of his legendary career, working with Gase for three seasons as quarterbacks coach (2012) and offensive coordinator (2013-14).
During their 2013 campaign together, Manning broke the NFL single-season records with 5,477 passing yards and 55 touchdowns.
