Jay Mandolesi enters his 23rd season with the New York Jets and his third as the director of college scouting. Mandolesi previously served as a national scout for the club for eight years, after spending nine years as an area scout, covering primarily the Southeast region. In his time scouting with the Jets, he has covered the majority of the country, including the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and Southwest regions.

In his current role, Mandolesi oversees the entire college scouting operation, managing and leading the department, while evaluating prospects throughout the country. Additionally, Mandolesi works closely with the coaches on Combine and Draft preparation.

This offseason (2026), Mandolesi helped lead a scouting staff that delivered three first round picks for just the third time in franchise history, with the selections of EDGE David Bailey, tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.

Prior to his stint as an area scout, Mandolesi spent three years as the Jets' coordinator of college scouting, where he was responsible for maintaining the day-to-day operations of the college scouting department regarding scouts' scheduling, university relations, and processing and organizing the information gathered on draft-eligible players.

In 2004, his first season with the Jets, Mandolesi was an assistant in the Jets video department. The following season (2005), he joined the coaching staff as a defensive assistant, where he compiled breakdowns of opposing offenses, assisted with coaching linebackers, and assembled weekly playbooks.

Before the Jets, Mandolesi spent two years interning for the Patriots in their video department, during which time New England won Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Born in Springfield, MA, Mandolesi earned his bachelor's degree in sports management in 2004 from Springfield College, where he was a four-time All-New England discus thrower. He and his wife, Michelle, reside in Cary, NC, with their two sons, Landon and Brice.