Jets GM Darren Mougey off to winless start since leaving Broncos front office
Darren Mougey rose the NFL ranks from a Broncos scouting intern to become Jets general manager.
His past and present collide Sunday in London when the Broncos and Jets meet as teams trending in opposite directions. Denver (3-2) just beat the reigning NFL champion Eagles in Philadelphia. New York (0-5) is still searching for its first win of the Mougey era.
Mougey spent 13 seasons with the Broncos (2012-24), with his final three years as assistant general manager to GM George Paton. The Jets introduced Mougey as their next general manager at a January news conference. He took an aggressive approach in his first year on the job with Aaron Glenn as head coach.
The Jets moved on from future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers and signed quarterback Justin Fields on a two-year deal with $40 million. Mougey also secured long-term contracts with cornerback Sauce Gardner ($120.4 million, four years) and wide receiver Garrett Wilson ($130 million, four years).
“I feel really good about the roster right now,” Mougey told Jets media in August after 53-man roster cuts. “Throughout training camp, we were able to evaluate and see the pieces that fit. And add some guys here late at the end. So, I feel really good about the roster today.”
But stabilizing a long-struggling franchise hasn’t happened yet.
The Jets have the unfortunate designation as the last winless NFL team entering Week 6. They’ve been in a few close games — against the Steelers (34-32), Buccaneers (29-21) and Dolphins (27-23) — but proved unable to close any of them out.
“I think I’m handling it as well as you can,” Wilson told Jets media in London on Thursday. “It’s obviously a tough thing to put so much into something, and then to not have a win to show for it at this point, right? When you really break it down on Sunday, it’s a tough thought. … The reality is that we’ve still got a lot in front of us and a lot to prove.”
Mougey expressed confidence in Fields at quarterback after training camp, telling New York media in August: “The command. His leadership. Obviously, (being) named a captain.” Field missed one start with a concussion but has been solid, throwing for 754 yards over four games with four passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and no interceptions.
Wilson is a primary Jets target with one receiving touchdown in four of five games. The No. 10 overall draft pick from 2022 has at least 1,000 yards receiving in all three of his three previous NFL seasons. Wilson is relishing the opportunity to face Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain.
“I think he’s a great, great player, man. Every time I get reps against him, for me, it’s like the game within the game,” Wilson said of Surtain. “The No. 1 thing that I respect about his game is just his feet, man. He truly trusts his feet. I would say that it’s rare that you see that nowadays. The way people teach it nowadays is how to get away with cheating in a way. Nah, this dude is playing defense. It’s really special to see. With that, I feel comfortable going against (defensive backs) like that, and I’ve always embraced the challenge.”
