NEW YORK-Mike Maccagnan helped lead the Jets' coaching search this offseason, spent big money in free agency and oversaw the team's draft.
Now, stunningly, he's out as New York's general manager.
Team chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson announced the decision to fire Maccagnan in a statement posted Wednesday on the team's Twitter account. Coach Adam Gase will serve as the acting general manager in Maccagnan's place while the Jets search for a replacement.
"This morning, I informed Mike that he was being relieved of his duties as general manager of the team, effective immediately," Johnson said in the statement. "Mike helped to execute the strategic vision of the organization during the last four seasons and especially the past few months. However, I came to the decision to make a change after much thought and a careful assessment of what would be in the best long-term interests of the New York Jets."
The timing is particularly strange because Maccagnan ran the Jets' draft less than three weeks ago, including taking defensive tackle Quinnen Williams with the No. 3 overall pick. There were some rumors, however, that there was tension between Maccagnan and Gase-which both denied.
Gase was irritated by the suggestion there were problems between the two when asked about the reports, saying last Friday: "I don't know who decides to put that stuff out there. It kind of pisses me off a little bit. We have discussions on everything."
ESPN reported that Brian Heimerdinger, the Jets' vice president of player personnel, was also fired as part of the team's front office shake-up.
Under Maccagnan, the Jets were 24-40 with no playoff appearances in four seasons. The team's only winning season in that span came in the first year for Maccagnan and Bowles in 2015, when New York was 10-6 but fell a win short of making the postseason.