Abstract: A release mechanism for manually securing a pluggable fiber optic transceiver to a cage mounted on a host circuit board. The release mechanism includes a pivoting faceplate connected to a transceiver housing such that the faceplate is rotatable from a first position in which the faceplate is positioned over a front surface of the housing to a second position in which the faceplate is pivoted away from the front surface of the housing. The release mechanism also includes a lever that disengages a boss from an opening formed in a resilient transceiver latch of the cage when the faceplate is in the second position. In one embodiment the boss is mounted on the housing, and the lever pushes the transceiver latch away from the boss. In another embodiment, the boss is mounted on the lever.