Louis Riddick has gained notoriety with the World Wide Leader in Sports over the last few years, serving as an analyst and broadcaster, but it appears he’s back in the running for a position with a professional franchise.
Riddick, a proud Pitt football alumnus, is receiving an interview with the New York Jets for their open general manager job, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The Jets fired now-former general manager Joe Douglas in November, in the midst of a 3-8 start to the season (amidst the first true season of the Aaron Rodgers era), and the franchise is looking for a new face to lead the way forward — no matter how difficult it may be.
Riddick, who previously worked with the Washington Redskins (Commanders) and Philadelphia Eagles, is set to receive an interview in the coming weeks. He previously interviewed for the Pittsburgh Steelers general manager position in 2022, which went to Omar Khan.
He even launched a Pitt apparel line with Mitchell & Ness last year.
“One of the reasons why I think my connection to Pittsburgh has grown since I left here is the fact that I remember how it used to be here before I played here,” Riddick said in April. “My heroes were Dorsett, Green, Marino, Fralic, Julius Dawkins, Sal Sunseri, Carlton Williamson, Lynn Thomas, those were my guys. I was in sixth, seventh grade at the time. Jackie Sherrill, Joe Moore, those were guys I met when I was in grade school.
“It was a team that was always right there, they beat everybody. Lose a game to North Carolina, beat everybody, lose a game that would keep them out of the national title picture, I want to see them get back to that.”
Riddick has been a very prominent “Pitt man” over the last couple of years, calling the 2022 Backyard Brawl on ESPN, returning as the keynote speaker of the Pitt Football Kickoff in 2023 and making another appearance for the 2024 Spring Game. And now there’s a chance he will be the next Jets GM.
Riddick arrived at Pitt in 1987, starting his career as a running back before switching to defensive back during the last two seasons of his Pitt career. He recorded 175 rushing yards and 57 receiving yards as a freshman before racking up four interceptions in the 1989-90 seasons.
He was named a first-team AP All-East honoree and thrived in the classroom, twice named an Academic All-American.
The Atlanta Falcons selected Riddick with the 248th pick (ninth round) of the 1991 NFL Draft, and he would spend seven seasons in the NFL with the Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders.
In 94 games, making eight starts, Riddick recorded 155 tackles (68 solo), two sacks and recovered a fumble.
Following his playing days, Riddick has worked in the front office for the Commanders and Eagles — serving as a scout and director of player personnel at both stops — and he has worked at ESPN since 2013.
Part of Riddick’s duties at ESPN included him calling Pitt’s 38-31 win over West Virginia in the revival of the Backyard Brawl last September.
