In their search for new leadership, the New York Jets are turning to one of their own.
The Jets announced on Monday that former General Manager Mike Tannenbaum and his think tank, The 33rd Team, would assist chairman and co-owner Woody Johnson in their search for a new head coach and general manager. Tannenbaum will be joined by fellow former Minnesota Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman. The Jets fired General Manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh earlier this year.
The 33rd Team bills itself as “the NFL’s premier think tank.” It was founded by Tannenbaum in 2019. On its website, The 33rd Team advertises professional services for NFL and college football teams, including executive search services. The think tank identifies top candidates for open positions in coaching, front office, and administrative personnel. Experts on the think tank’s roster include Tannenbaum, Spielman, former Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns executive Joe Banner, and former Vikings and Tennessee Titans executive Jeff Diamond.
Tannenbaum previously served as general manager of the Jets from 2006 until 2012. During that time, he and then-head coach Rex Ryan led the Jets to back-to-back appearances in the AFC Championship game in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Tannenbaum also conducted the trade that allowed the Jets to select Hall of Fame cornerback Darelle Revis in the 2007 NFL Draft. Before that, he served as the Jets’ assistant general manager and director of pro personnel from 2001 to 2005, director of pro player development in 2000, and director of player contracts from 1997 to 2000.
After leaving the team in 2012, Tannenbaum worked for a sports management company, where he represented coaches, broadcasters, and front-office staff, including Steve Kerr, Dan Quinn, and Phil Savage, who currently serves as the Jets’ interim general manager. He also served as executive vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins from 2015 to 2018. Tannenbaum is also a lecturer in sports management at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies. He has been a Front Office Insider at ESPN since 2019.
Spielman previously served as general manager of the Minnesota Vikings from 2012 to 2021. During his tenure as general manager, Spielman drafted a large number of the Vikings’ most notable star players, including NFL record holder Adrian Peterson, special teams greats Percy Harvin and Cordarelle Patterson, 2x Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph, 4x Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook, All-Pro and Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith, 3x Pro Bowl cornerback Xavier Rhodes, Pro Bowl Linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, 4x Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter, “Minneapolis Miracle” receiver Stefon Diggs, and current superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The Vikings made the playoffs in 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2019. Spielman, a former NFL player himself, also served as the Vikings’ vice president of player personnel from 2006 to 2011.
In 2024, Spielman served as an adviser to the Washington Commanders during their search for a new head coach. The team settled on Dan Quinn, who has led the team to a 7–5 record and the 7th seed in the playoffs as of the publishing of this piece.
