Davante Adams Reacts to Jets Firing GM Joe Douglas: ‘It’s Surprising but It’s Not’

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVNovember 21, 2024

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The fallout from the New York Jets’ tumultuous 2024 season continued Tuesday when they fired general manager Joe Douglas, and one of the team’s most prominent players weighed in on the developments Wednesday.

“It’s surprising but it’s not,” wide receiver Davante Adams said of the firing during an appearance on Up & Adams with Kay Adams. “Just because you know the way this game goes and when games aren’t being won and things don’t look the way they were intended to look, something’s gotta change.”

Up & Adams @UpAndAdamsShowWas Davante Adams SURPRISED by the firing of #Jets GM Joe Douglas? 🔊

“It’s surprising but it’s not… when games aren’t being won and things don’t look the way they were intended to look, something’s gotta change.” @tae15adams @heykayadams @MSGNetworks pic.twitter.com/kWPsjzEg4P

The Jets also fired head coach Robert Saleh in October and then traded for Adams shortly after that move.

Yet the headline trade didn’t change much, as New York is 1-4 in five games with Adams on the field. It is an ugly 3-8 on the campaign despite entering the season with realistic playoff expectations.

Firing Douglas was the next step as the team attempts to turn things around with Aaron Rodgers under center, but Adams had nothing but positive things to say about the former general manager despite joining the team midseason.

“All my interactions with him were amazing,” he said. “He’s one of the most down-to-earth guys, and to be a general manager—and I mean this in the most respectful way—you’d never know he was a general manager just by the way he moves around. Which is something that I appreciate. You don’t want a guy that walks around like he wears the big drawers every day. You want somebody that’s relatable and has a calm demeanor.”

Up & Adams @UpAndAdamsShowWhat was the relationship like between Davante Adams and now former Jets GM Joe Douglas? 🔊

“I had nothing but good interactions with Joe D.”@heykayadams @tae15adams @nyjets pic.twitter.com/3TnuIzTi6u

The team’s ambitious plans with Rodgers leading an offense that features Adams, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, among others, haven’t worked out as envisioned.

This has largely turned into a lost season as a result, and the firing of Douglas means the team will look to someone else to help rebuild the roster some during the offseason. Whether that future includes Rodgers and other key players remains to be seen, but there is still a season to finish before the offseason becomes the focal point.