Jets GM Joe Douglas had surreal moment before being fired by team

Feb 28, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas received a sign from above shortly before the team fired him.

Douglas was fired on Tuesday after five-plus seasons with the Jets. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports spoke on Sunday about the events leading up to Douglas being dismissed. The reporter said Jets owner Woody Johnson flew in on a helicopter during Tuesday’s practice. Douglas, who was standing near Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich, made a comment about Johnson flying in to fire the GM.

And that’s exactly what happened.

“They’re in the middle of their last practice going into the bye week and then owner Woody Johnson flies in on his helicopter,” Glazer said. “Everybody kind of looked around and said, ‘Well, this can’t be good.’ Joe Douglas, the general manager, turned to Jeff Ulbrich, the head coach, and said, ‘Well, if they pull me off the practice field, it’s been an honor serving with you.’ And they kind of laughed about it. They pulled him off the practice field, and that’s the last they really saw of Joe Douglas.”

Glazer said the move did not sit well with the team, describing it as “one of many things that have created such a big divide in there between Woody Johnson and everybody else.”

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Douglas knew he was on borrowed time in New York. There have been reports that he was actually relieved to be fired. He may not have known Johnson arrived via helicopter to deliver a pink slip, but it certainly wasn’t a shock, either.

A number of unflattering reports have leaked out about Johnson in recent days. The helicopter story is only the latest.