Broncos’ executive Darren Mougey interviews with Jets for their GM position

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Longtime Broncos’ personnel executive Darren Mougey is uniquely qualified as a general manager candidate.

At least the New York Jets think so, to their credit. And the Jets could some. Having worked his way from Broncos’ intern 13 years ago to his current role as assistant general manager, Mougey interviewed Saturday morning with the Jets for their vacant GM job in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Mougey, 39, has a unique mix of longtime loyalty to one organization while also working with three ownership groups, two general managers, the highs of a Broncos’ team winning four AFC West titles and going to two Super Bowls, the lows of an extended run of losing seasons, and the gratifying bounce back of reaching the playoffs again.

A former quarterback turned receiver at San Diego State, Mougey played briefly in the NFL as an undrafted free agent before Broncos’ general manager John Elway gave him his start in 2012 as a scouting intern. Mougey gradually moved up the organization’s ladder, serving roles as personnel and scouting assistant, college and pro personnel scout, area scout, assistant director of college scouting, director of player personnel for new GM George Paton in 2021, then was promoted to assistant GM in 2022.

Mougey served for owner Pat Bowlen, chief executive officer and owner delegee Joe Ellis and now the Walton-Penner ownership group headed by Greg Penner.

During Mougey’s career, the Broncos won four division titles in a row from 2012-15, went to the Super Bowl in 2013 and 2015, and won Super Bowl 50 in 2015 before the team fell into an eight-season playoff drought that includes seven consecutive losing season. Only the Jets have a longer drought at 14 seasons and running.

Mougey knows unique insight on how to climb out of such a hole.

Thanks to a slew of recent shrewd draft picks that included Pat Surtain II, Javonte Williams, Quinn Meinerz and Jonathon Cooper in 2021; Nik Bonitto and Luke Wattenberg in 2022; Marvin Mims Jr. and Riley Moss in 2023; and Bo Nix, Jonah Elliss, Audric Estime and Devaughn Vele in 2024, plus free-agent signings like D.J. Jones, Zach Allen, Mike McGlinchey, Ben Powers and a trade with the Jets for John Franklin-Myers, the Broncos are back in the playoffs.

The Jets under owner Woody Johnson are looking for new football leaders to replace head coach Robert Saleh, who was fired just five games into this past season, and general manager Joe Douglas. Broncos’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will interview for the Jets’ head coaching position next week with the time and day to be set up after Denver’s first-round playoff game Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

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