Jets fire GM Tannenbaum; Ryan retains job

Florham Park, NJ – Mike Tannenbaum has been fired as the general manager of the New York Jets, chairman and CEO Woody Johnson announced in a statement Monday.

"This morning, I informed Mike Tannenbaum that he will not return for the 2013 season," Johnson said. "Mike devoted 15 years of service to the Jets, and I want to thank him for his hard work and dedication. Although he helped guide us to two consecutive AFC Championship games, we are not where we want to be, and a new general manager will be critical to getting this team back on the right track."

Tannenbaum joined the Jets in 1997 as the director of player contract negotiations and served in a variety of administrative football management positions before being named as the GM in 2006.

Under his tenure, New York amassed a 57-55 record and advanced to back-to-back conference championships in 2009 and 2010.

"I want to thank Woody and his entire family for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime -- serving as the General Manager of the New York Jets for seven years," Tannenbaum said in his own statement. I am incredibly grateful to have been a part of rebuilding a winning tradition for Jets fans over the past 15 years. I appreciate that it is rare for someone to stay with one organization with such a wide range of responsibilities for so many years. My time with the Jets will always be special to me and my family and it has prepared me well for whatever comes next."

But the team has failed to finish the season with a winning record over the past two seasons, falling to 8-8 in 2011 and finishing this past season with a 6-10 mark to fall into last place in the AFC East.

Despite the fall, Johnson also announced on Monday that head coach Rex Ryan will keep his job.

"I believe that he has the passion, the talent, and the drive to successfully lead our team," Johnson said about Ryan.