National Football League

Jets hire Texans exec Mike Maccagnan as new general manager

Published Jan. 13, 2015 7:05 p.m. ET

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The New York Jets have their new general manager.

The Jets hired former Houston Texans executive Mike Maccagnan on Tuesday, replacing the fired John Idzik. The move came hours before they tabbed Arizona Cardinals Todd Bowles as their new head coach.

Maccagnan was Houston's director of college scouting and the only GM candidate who received a second meeting with the Jets. Maccagnan first interviewed with owner Woody Johnson and consultants Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf last Monday before having another meeting Friday and staying in New Jersey over the weekend.

"We interviewed a number of impressive, qualified candidates, but Mike Maccagnan clearly stood out," Johnson said in a statement. "Mike's attention to detail, strong personnel background and collaborative approach to evaluating players made it clear that he is the right choice to be the next general manager of the New York Jets."

The Jets fired coach Rex Ryan and Idzik on Dec. 29 after a 4-12 season in which the Jets missed the postseason for the fourth straight year.

New York interviewed Bowles for a second time Tuesday -- and Maccagnan was involved in the meeting.

"As with all teams, there are some areas we need to address," Maccagnan said. "But we're going to hire the right head coach, evaluate our personnel and work together to build a football operation to get the New York Jets back on the winning track."

In terms of the team's power structure, both Maccagnan and Bowles will report directly to Johnson. Maccagnan will have final say on the 53-man roster, while the coach will decide who plays.

Johnson chose to go in a new direction at both coach and general manager, despite Idzik only having the job for two years. In order to determine the most suitable candidates, the owner hired the services of Casserly and Wolf, both experienced and well-respected former NFL general managers.

The Jets interviewed seven candidates for the GM job, and Maccagnan's strong background in personnel impressed Johnson. He has very little experience on the business end, in terms of salary cap issues and contracts, which was Idzik's strength. But Maccagnan is known to have a terrific eye for talent.

"Mike Maccagnan is an outstanding football man, one who is highly organized, and an excellent evaluator," Casserly said. "He is very thorough in his preparation and will do a terrific job for the Jets."

Maccagnan has close ties to Casserly, which likely bolstered the new GM's chances. He had been with the Texans since 2000, when Casserly -- then Houston's general manager -- hired him and contributed to every draft since the team's inception. Maccagnan also previously worked with Casserly in Washington, where he was a scout for the Redskins for six seasons.

He was promoted to director of college scouting for the Texans in 2011 after previously working as the team's assistant director. He also has spent time in the scouting and player personnel departments of the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders and Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the World League's London Monarchs, as well as the World League's offices.

Maccagnan grew up in Hightstown, New Jersey, about an hour south of the Jets' facility in Florham Park.

He beat out six other candidates, including Tampa Bay director of player personnel Jon Robinson, Miami director of college scouting Chris Grier, Philadelphia director of pro personnel Rick Mueller, Seattle director of pro personnel Trent Kirchner, Cleveland executive chief of staff Bill Kuharich and Jets senior director of football administration Rod Graves.

"In my line of work," Maccagnan said, "having the chance to serve as a general manager is what you work toward your entire career."