Joe Douglas is out as the general manager of the New York Jets, and in the insular world of Philadelphia sports, the question arises: Should the Eagles bring him back?
For many, the answer is clear. Douglas served as the Eagles’ vice president of player personnel from 2016 to 2019, working alongside GM Howie Roseman to help build the franchise’s first and only Super Bowl-winning team in the 2017 season. His success in Philadelphia played a significant role in catching the Jets’ attention when they hired him.
However, a reunion between Douglas and the Eagles seems unlikely at this time. Since Douglas’ departure, Roseman has reshaped the Eagles’ front office, leveraging the departures of Douglas and other key personnel executives, including Andy Weidl, Andrew Berry, Catherine Raiche, Ian Cunningham, and Brandon Brown, to restructure the football operations and scouting departments. The current setup now includes two assistant GMs, Alec Halaby and Jon Ferrari, along with two VPs of Player Personnel—Chuck Walls, who focuses on the pro side, and Alan Wolking, who oversees the college side. Additionally, Brandon Hunt serves as senior director of scouting, with Anthony Patch handling senior college scouting duties. The front office is further bolstered by former Jacksonville GM Dave Caldwell and former Denver VP of player personnel Matt Russell, who act as senior personnel directors and advisors to Roseman.
Given the current depth of the Eagles’ front office, it is unlikely that Douglas would be brought back in any significant role. A potential fit for him might be as a senior personnel advisor, a position Roseman has used to strengthen his team in the past. However, with the Eagles’ front office in a strong position and Roseman content with his current setup, there appears to be little room for Douglas at this stage.
Additionally, Douglas is still being compensated by the Jets, and taking another position could impact that arrangement. While there was some friction between Douglas and the Eagles before his departure, five years of distance may have helped mend any issues.
Should the Eagles face further departures in the future or if Douglas decides he needs to rebuild his resume before another GM opportunity, a reunion could become more realistic. However, in the short term, a return to Philadelphia makes little sense, especially while the Eagles’ operations are running smoothly.