Adam Gase ideally would like the Jets to have their new general manager in place by next Thursday, when they break for the summer. But if it means getting the hire right, he's willing to wait.
"It would be nice to do that (hire a GM before the quiet period)," Gase told reporters Tuesday at the Jets' mandatory minicamp in Florham Park, New Jersey. "But at the end of the day, however long it takes us to get the right guy, that's what we're going to do."
The Jets interviewed their fourth candidate for the position, Chicago Bears assistant director for player personnel Champ Kelly, on Monday. Kelly rounded out the interviews that have been scheduled, and there is no indication of more interviews being scheduled.
Kelly joins Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas, Seahawks co-director of player personnel Scott Fitterer and Saints director of pro scouting Terry Fontenot in being interviewed for the position. Douglas is widely regarded as the favorite.
The Jets are searching for a replacement for Mike Maccagnan, who was surprisingly fired last month. Gase, who is serving as interim GM, has sat in on all four interviews, but Jets chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson will make the final call.
"Those guys did a great job," Gase said. "It was a great process we've gone through so far, and we'll just keep huddling up and figuring out where we're at with that until Christopher's ready to make a decision."
The last day of minicamp is Thursday. The team then is off until July 26, when training camp officially opens.
