The Jets continue to conduct a thorough interview process for both a new general manager and coach. On Saturday, the Jets interviewed Darren Rizzi, who was the Saints’ interim coach and special teams coordinator last season. They also spoke with five candidates for their vacant general manager position: Lions special assistant to the president and CEO Chris Spielman, Broncos assistant GM Darren Mougey, Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark, Bengals senior personnel director Trey Brown, and Vikings senior vice president of player personnel. Ryan Grigson. More candidates are expected to be interviewed as well. The Jets previously interviewed Thomas Dimitroff, Jon Robinson, Jim Nagy, Louis Riddick, Alec Halaby, Mike Borgonzi, Ray Farmer, and Mike Greenberg for the GM vacancy. Spielman’s brother Rick and former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum are spearheading the team’s interview process working for The 33rd Team, which owner Woody Johnson hired in November to help identify candidates and coordinate interviews. Johnson fired both Jets coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas in the middle of a 5-12 season. RIZZI’S RESUME Rizzi, a Hillsdale, New Jersey native, began coaching in the NFL in 2009 when he was hired as the Dolphins’ assistant special teams coach. The following season, Rizzi became Miami’s special teams coach, a position he held until 2019. He was promoted to associate coach along with his special teams duties from 2017-18 before not being retained after Brian Flores became Dolphins coach in 2019. In 2019, Saints head coach Sean Payton hired Rizzi as the team’s special teams coordinator. In 2022, Dennis Allen promoted him to assistant head coach alongside his special teams responsibilities. New Orleans handed Rizzi the keys to the castle after the organization made him the interim coach after firing Allen nine games into the 2024 season. The Saints won three of its first four games after Rizzi took over. However, Saints quarterback Derek Carr broke his hand and suffered a concussion, sidelining him for the season’s final four games. New Orleans finished 5-12 and in last place in the NFC South. Rizzi finished 3-4 as interim coach of the Saints. Before his stint as interim coach of the Saints this season, Rizzi’s only head coaching experience came when he was the coach at the collegiate level at New Haven (1999-2001) and Rhode Island (2008). SPIELMAN’S RESUME Most fans will remember Spielman, 56, as an 11-year linebacker for the Lions and Bills (1988-97). After his playing career ended, Spielman went into broadcasting, working for both Fox Sports and ESPN. Spielman re-joined the Lions organization in a front-office role in 2021 as a special assistant to president/CEO Robert Wood. He played an essential part in the Lions hiring of GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell. In addition, Spielman has a close working relationship with the Lions’ business and football aspects. He also helps Detroit with college scouting. On Thursday, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn interviewed with the Jets for their coaching vacancy. GRIGSON’S RESUME Unlike the rest of the candidates who interviewed on Saturday, Grigson has previous GM experience. After working with the Rams and Eagles as a scout and director of player personnel, Grigson was the Colts’ GM from 2012-16. During that time, the Colts drafted quarterback Andrew Luck (2012) and made three playoff appearances in five seasons. Grigson, 52, was fired after the 2016 season. He finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the second straight season. During his time in Indianapolis, he had a 49-31 record. Following his Colts’ exit, Grigson had stops with the Browns and Seahawks working as an executive and consultant. In 2022, the Vikings hired Grigson as their senior vice president of player personnel, a role he has had ever since. Many people blame Grigson for failing to protect Luck, which led to his sudden retirement in 2019. But he was named the 2012 NFL Executive of the Year by the Sporting News and Pro Football Writers of America after the Colts improved from a 2-14 record in 2011 to an 11-5 record, a nine-game improvement. In addition to Grigson, the Jets have requested to speak with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown for the coaching position. So, potentially, Grigson could work with Flores or McCown, two coaches with whom he has relationships. Minnesota finished with a 14-3 record this season and will play the Rams on Monday night in the NFL Wild-Card Round. MOUGEY’S RESUME Mougey is in his second season as the Broncos’ assistant general manager. He helped Denver obtain the seventh seed in the AFC after the team’s defense finished seventh in yards (317.1) and third in points allowed (18.3). Mougey, 39, has been with the Broncos since 2012 when he was hired as a scouting intern. He has held several positions within the organization, including personnel and scouting assistant, college and pro personnel scout, assistant director of college scouting, and director of player personnel. Since being promoted to assistant GM in 2022, Mougey has been Broncos GM George Paton’s right-hand man. Both Mougey and Paton helped the Broncos to a 10-7 record this year by selecting players such as Bo Nix, Nik Bonitto, Marvin Mims Jr., and Riley Moss and signing players D.J. Jones and Mike McGlinchey. NEWMARK’S RESUME Newmark is in his first season as the Commanders’ assistant GM. He worked with GM Adam Peters and helped the team finish 12-5 and earn the sixth seed in the NFC. He has 28 years of NFL experience, including 26 seasons with the Lions. During his role with the Lions, Newmark served as the senior director of player personnel (2016-21) and oversaw the college and pro scouting operations. Newmark also was Detroit’s director of college scouting (2015-16), assistant director of college scouting (2008-14), national scout (2005-07), and area scout (1999-2004). He began his NFL executive career with the Chargers, working under then-GM Bobby Beathard, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member. BROWN’S RESUME In 2022, Brown, 39, became the Bengals senior personnel executive after he was promoted from his scout position. Brown has interviewed for an NFL GM job three times: with the Bills in May 2017, with the Raiders in December 2018, and with the Raiders in January 2022. Before joining the Bengals in 2021, Brown was a Patriots scout, the Eagles’ director of college scouting, and worked for the AAF and XFL. Reportedly, Brown declined an interview for the Patriots GM position last offseason.