After the Jets met with ESPN analyst and former NFL executive Louis Riddick for the vacant general manager position, Deion Sanders implored the Jets not to kill a potential opportunity.
“Jets, please don't mess this up. I hope this is a real interview and nothing other than your intentions,” Colorado head coach said. I wrote it on Thursday's X.. “This man deserves a real chance! He is the epitome of knowledge and class!”
The Pro Football Hall of Famer has long been a supporter of Riddick, a six-year NFL veteran who served as the Eagles' director of pro personnel from 2010 to 2013.
Riddick, 55, also worked as a pro scout in Washington from 2001 to 2004 and was promoted to director of pro personnel from 2005 to 2007.
He has since become one of ESPN's top NFL analysts, previously giving GM opening interviews for the Giants in 2017 and the Lions and Texans in 2020.
The “other” thing Sanders seemed to be referring to was the Rooney Rule, which requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate.
The team has been criticized in the past for interviewing minority candidates for the role but not actually hiring them.
Sanders and Riddick were teammates on the Atlanta Falcons in the early 1990s.
The Jets announced Tuesday that they have completed interviews with general manager and head coach Riddick and Ron Rivera, respectively.
After team owner Woody Johnson fired Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas during the season, he enlisted the support of the 33rd Team, a group founded by former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum. He is leading the search to hire a new coach and GM.
Phil Savage has been named interim GM.
The Jets are also in talks with former Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, former Titans GM Jon Robinson and former NFL scout Jim Nagy for the role.
Sanders (whose son, Buffaloes quarterback Shedur Sanders, is expected to be a top pick in April's NFL Draft), asked what “another thing you guys are doing” means and more. did not explain.
The Jets also met with Mike Vrabel on Friday regarding the head coaching position.
