Let the interviews begin.

A source confirmed that the Jets will take the next step in the search for their new general manager when they begin interviews this week. The first known candidates are former Titans GM Jon Robinson and ESPN analyst Louis Riddick.

Robinson will give an interview this week, while Riddick’s interview may come later.

The Jets may interview candidates who are not currently working for an NFL team. Anyone currently employed by a team must be interviewed after the season.

The Jets fired coach Robert Saleh on October 8th and GM Joe Douglas on November 19th in the midst of this disappointing season.

The Jets are not required to hire a GM first and then a coach. They hired the 33rd team, led by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and former Vikings GM Rick Spielman, to help them search for the two positions.

Robinson, 48, was the Titans’ GM from 2016-22. The Titans posted a 66-43 record, never had a losing season, and reached the playoffs four times during his time with the team. Tennessee had two consecutive last-place finishes before his arrival.

The Titans released him in December 2022 before the season was over. Many people cited his trade of star wide receiver AJ Brown to the Eagles during the 2022 draft as one of his biggest mistakes, which led to his firing months later. Interestingly, Robinson worked with coach Mike Vrabel at Tennessee, who is one of the top head coaching candidates this cycle.

Robinson, who began his career as a scout with the Patriots, had some big hits in the draft early in his tenure – Derrick Henry, Kevin Byard, Jack Conklin, Jeffery Simmons and Brown. But he later had some terrible picks, like picking offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson in the first round of the 2020 draft. Wilson played in a game for the Titans, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. He’s out of the league. The next year, Robinson drafted Caleb Farley at No. 22, even though Farley had a risky medical history. Fighting to stay healthy, Farley played 12 games in two years for Tennessee and is now with the Panthers.

Riddick, 55, has had several opening GM interviews in recent years, including with the Giants in 2017 before they hired Dave Gettleman. Before joining ESPN as an analyst, Riddick worked in the front offices of the Eagles and Commanders. He played seven seasons in the NFL.

ESPN initially reported Robinson and Riddick as candidates for the Jets job.