If there’s one front office that’s become a proving ground for future NFL executives, it’s the Philadelphia Eagles’. Year after year, teams across the league look to poach talent from Howie Roseman’s orbit-and 2026 is shaping up to be no different.
This time, it’s senior personnel director Joe Douglas who’s drawing interest. According to reports, the Atlanta Falcons have officially requested to interview Douglas for their vacant general manager position. And while Douglas isn’t exactly an out-of-nowhere candidate-he’s got the résumé to warrant consideration-it would still raise some eyebrows if he ultimately lands the job.
Douglas rejoined the Eagles ahead of the 2025 season after a five-and-a-half-year run as general manager of the New York Jets. That tenure was rocky, to say the least.
The Jets went 32-68 under his watch, a record that doesn’t exactly scream success. But Douglas’ reputation wasn’t built solely on his time in New York.
Before taking the reins with the Jets, Douglas was a key figure in the Eagles’ front office, serving as vice president of player personnel. Alongside Roseman, he played a major role in constructing the roster that delivered Philadelphia its first Super Bowl title under head coach Doug Pederson. That championship run helped elevate Douglas’ profile and made him a hot name in GM circles.
Now, he’s back in Philly, and once again, he’s on the radar.
The Falcons’ interest in Douglas is part of a broader trend-they're reportedly eyeing multiple former Eagles executives for the GM job. That’s not unusual. The Eagles have become something of a pipeline for front office talent, and Roseman’s ability to build and develop a deep bench of evaluators and decision-makers is a big reason why.
One of Douglas’ main competitors for the Atlanta job is expected to be Brandon Cunningham, who’s emerging as a strong candidate in his own right. So while Douglas is certainly in the mix, he’s not walking into a clear path to the position.
Regardless of how things shake out in Atlanta, the Eagles are once again facing the reality that success breeds attrition. When you build a consistently competitive roster and maintain a sharp eye for talent, other teams take notice-and they want a piece of that formula. For Philadelphia, losing top front office minds has become the cost of doing business at the top of the league.