Woody Johnson’s Jets: ‘Madden’ ratings, a lost season and ‘the most dysfunctional place imaginable’

By Zack Rosenblatt, Dianna Russini and Michael Silver

Woody Johnson determined to do his personal analysis.

The New York Jets’ proprietor was at his home in Palm Seashore, Fla., final February, discussing potential offseason acquisitions with crew decision-makers as they watched recreation tape. Vast receiver Jerry Jeudy, a former Denver Broncos first-round decide, flashed on the display. Jets basic supervisor Joe Douglas expressed curiosity, in line with somebody aware of the assembly. Johnson took out his telephone and began typing.

A couple of weeks later, Douglas and his Broncos counterpart, George Paton, had been deep in negotiations for a commerce that may have despatched Jeudy to the Jets and given future Corridor of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers one other potential playmaker. The Broncos felt a deal was close to. Then, abruptly, all of it fell aside. In Denver’s government workplaces, they couldn’t consider the explanation why.

Douglas advised the Broncos that Johnson didn’t need to make the commerce as a result of the proprietor felt Jeudy’s participant score in “Madden NFL,” the favored online game, wasn’t excessive sufficient, in line with a number of league sources. The Broncos finally traded the receiver to the Cleveland Browns. Final Sunday, Jeudy crossed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the primary time in his profession.

Coming into this season, the Jets had hopes of ending the franchise’s 13-year playoff drought — the longest within the 4 main males’s North American sports activities — and quieting years of discuss concerning the franchise’s dysfunction. As a substitute, this season has solely cemented the Jets’ fame.

Head coach Robert Saleh was fired 5 video games into the marketing campaign. Douglas was fired six weeks later. Johnson steered benching Rodgers as a result of poor efficiency — a Jets spokesperson stated the proprietor was “being provocative. He made the assertion in jest to see how it might be dealt with.” Per week later, the Jets traded for Davante Adams, the All-Professional wideout and Rodgers’ shut good friend and former teammate in Inexperienced Bay. New York has stumbled to a 4-10 document and can miss the postseason for the 14th straight season.

One other offseason of turnover awaits, and on the root of the franchise’s issues is Johnson, who was characterised as an over-involved, impulsive proprietor in conversations with greater than 20 individuals in and across the Jets group — present and former gamers, coaches and crew executives — who had been granted anonymity in an effort to converse overtly with out concern of reprisal.

“They carry on doing the identical factor again and again: they alter the soccer individuals. The soccer individuals are not the difficulty,” one former government stated. “It’s, ‘Hey, I’ve mind most cancers.’ And, ‘Effectively, simply lower off your foot.’”

Johnson, who declined The Athletic’s request for remark, soured on his franchise quarterback lower than a yr after betting large on him, denigrated his personal gamers within the locker room and appeared to observe decision-making recommendation from his teenage sons, in line with numerous crew and league sources. And the proposed Jeudy commerce wasn’t the one time Johnson cited “Madden” rankings when evaluating gamers.

“There are organizations the place it’s all arrange so that you can win,” stated a participant with the crew in 2023. “It feels fully totally different (with the Jets). It’s essentially the most dysfunctional place possible.”

Forward of the Jets-Giants preseason finale at MetLife Stadium in 2019, an administrative assistant popped into the crew’s teaching workplaces to make an announcement to then-head coach Adam Gase and his employees. Woody Johnson, then serving as U.S. ambassador to the UK within the Trump administration, was quickly getting back from London. The assistant stated everybody ought to check with Johnson as “Mr. Ambassador.”

That has held true lengthy after Johnson left authorities and returned to his position as Jets chairman in January 2021, hanging a discordant tone amongst those that consider the group has lengthy been affected by mismanagement.

“I assume that’s what you’d name him,” one assistant coach stated. “I’d by no means been round royalty earlier than.”

Johnson is an inheritor to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune, however he spends most of his working days on the Jets facility in Florham Park, N.J., and sometimes meets with the pinnacle coach and basic supervisor. When he purchased the crew in 2000, Johnson thought he was inheriting Invoice Belichick as coach — hand-picked by Invoice Parcells to take over earlier than Parcells resigned. Belichick lasted solely in the future, scribbling “I resign as HC of the NYJ” on a serviette at his introductory information convention earlier than bolting for the New England Patriots.

The legendary coach has spent a lot of the previous twenty years torturing the Jets franchise, on the sector and off of it. Whereas out of teaching this fall, Belichick mocked Johnson in numerous media appearances (Belichick’s camp additionally reached out to the Jets about their head-coaching emptiness). In an look on ESPN’s “ManningCast” throughout a Monday evening recreation between the Jets and Payments on Oct. 14 — New York’s first recreation since firing Saleh — Belichick described the proprietor’s strategy to working the group as “prepared, fireplace, goal.”

Many who’ve been a part of the Jets group throughout Johnson’s tenure heard that remark and agreed. Others pointed to the proprietor’s phrases on Oct. 15, the day the Jets acquired Adams, when Johnson stated, “Considering is overrated.”

“Woody is simply performing on intuition,” stated a present Jets government. “With Woody, it’s like, ‘I’m proper — show me unsuitable.’ You simply don’t know what to anticipate … He’s been proper sufficient, simply along with his random opinions, that (a foul resolution) doesn’t dissuade him. And when he’s unsuitable, who’s gonna maintain him accountable?”

Through the annual NFL Draft, Johnson is understood to maintain to himself whereas choices are being made, in line with one former government, then exit the room and retreat to a close-by snack bar with confidants to make “smart-ass strains” concerning the entrance workplace’s choices. Group decision-makers didn’t recognize Johnson’s after-the-fact critiques, however the proprietor was often confirmed right: The manager remembers Johnson being particularly vocal when former basic supervisor Mike Maccagnan drafted quarterback Christian Hackenberg out of Penn State within the second spherical of the 2016 Draft. Hackenberg by no means performed a regular-season snap for the Jets.

Some contained in the group consider Johnson is consumed with the general public notion of his franchise, generally on the expense of on-the-field success. When the Jets traded quarterback Zach Wilson to the Broncos final April, Denver requested Douglas to incorporate the ultimate decide of the draft (257th general). In accordance with a supply aware of the negotiations, Johnson instructed Douglas to as a substitute commerce the 256th decide — which the Jets additionally owned — so New York may choose “Mr. Irrelevant,” the ultimate decide of the draft who’s yearly celebrated upon his choice.

“Are you able to consider that?” the supply stated. “He thought he wanted the Mr. Irrelevant decide to get a Brock Purdy (the ultimate decide of the 2022 draft who has emerged as a franchise quarterback in San Francisco). I don’t suppose that’s ever occurred within the historical past of the NFL: A crew needed a worse decide.”

The Broncos used decide No. 256 to take offensive guard Nick Gargiulo, who’s now on the Broncos’ lively roster. The Jets used the “Mr. Irrelevant” decide on Alabama security Jaylen Key, who didn’t survive the ultimate roster cutdown and is not on their apply squad.

Johnson weighs in on issues all through the group, from lineup choices (he compelled interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich to bench beginning security Tony Adams in November) to the crew schedule (he needed the Jets to apply throughout their bye week, a lot to the chagrin of crew leaders). “He’s like most crew homeowners,” the crew spokesperson stated. “He asks questions of his employees to raised perceive what their plans are.”

“Your job turns into managing Woody,” a present crew government stated. “That’s not distinctive for an NFL GM — the distinction right here is that not solely are you managing Woody, however you must handle all of the individuals who affect him. That might be household, that might be media, that might be individuals within the constructing.”

When Johnson left for the U.Ok. in 2017, his sons, Brick and Jack, had been 11 and 9, respectively. When he returned, they had been youngsters. Final yr, Johnson began together with his sons in some conferences on the crew facility. For some Jets staff, the sons’ rising involvement clarified their father’s propensity for sharing posts from X and articles from numerous shops, together with a weblog referred to as “Jets X-Issue,” with the group’s prime decision-makers.

“Once we’re discussing issues, you’ll hear Woody cite one thing that Brick or Jack learn on-line that’s being weighed equally towards no matter opinion another person within the division has,” stated one Jets government.

“I reply to a young person,” Douglas quipped to individuals near him earlier than the season in an acknowledgment of the perceived energy dynamic.

Johnson’s reference to Jeudy’s “Madden” score was, to some within the Jets’ group, an indication of Brick and Jack’s affect. One other instance got here when Johnson pushed again on signing free-agent guard John Simpson as a result of a lackluster “consciousness” score in Madden. The Jets signed Simpson anyway, and he has had a strong season: Professional Soccer Focus at the moment has him graded because the eighth-best guard within the NFL.

The Jets spokesperson disputed the concept that Brick and Jack’s observations affect the group’s decision-making course of. “It’s used as a reference level; it isn’t determinative,” the spokesperson stated. “It’s actually unhappy that an grownup would use a deceptive anecdote about youngsters to make their father look unhealthy. It’s ridiculous, fairly truthfully, the concept that this was used to affect the opinion of skilled executives.

“(The sons) don’t have any roles within the group. It’s fully ridiculous to recommend that any exterior information is meant to exchange the opinions of (Woody Johnson’s) employees.”

The Johnson household’s habits contained in the Jets locker room has additionally turn into a problem, in line with crew and league sources. NFL locker rooms are restricted-access areas usually restricted to gamers, coaches, crew personnel and media members. However Brick and Jack have introduced buddies — female and male — into the locker room, and present and former gamers and coaches advised The Athletic that Woody Johnson, his spouse, Suzanne Ircha Johnson, and his sons criticized gamers contained in the locker room.

In 2022, quarterback Mike White performed by damaged ribs in a late-season recreation towards the Seahawks with postseason hopes on the road. White performed poorly; the Jets misplaced and had been eradicated from playoff competition. After the sport, with the quarterback within the showers after throwing his helmet to the locker room flooring, a number of Jets gamers stated they heard Woody Johnson say, “You need to throw your helmet, you f—ing suck.” The assertion received again to White. The crew spokesperson stated Johnson apologized to the quarterback, who declined to remark for this story.

Within the postgame locker room after final yr’s Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns, a number of gamers stated they heard Johnson’s sons loudly disparaging sure Jets gamers.

This yr, on Halloween evening, the Jets registered their first victory since Saleh’s firing 4 weeks earlier. It was a big second for a struggling crew. Rodgers walked into an energized locker room with a recreation ball in hand, and it was anticipated that he’d give the ball to Ulbrich, a customary gesture when a coach will get his first NFL win.

However earlier than Rodgers may converse, Brick Johnson took one other recreation ball and awarded it to large receiver Garrett Wilson in a profanity-laced exclamation, which the proprietor’s son later posted to Instagram. Woody Johnson then gave Ulbrich the ball Rodgers had been holding. A number of gamers stated the vitality felt drained out of the room.

“It was essentially the most awkward, cringe-worthy, brutal expertise,” one participant stated.

The excessive level of the Johnson-Rodgers marriage got here at Rodgers’ introductory information convention, when he spoke of the Jets’ lone Tremendous Bowl trophy — received in 1969 — wanting somewhat “lonely.” New York entered the 2023 season as one of many league’s buzziest groups — and doubtlessly Tremendous Bowl contenders — and the Jets had been chosen to seem on HBO’s “Laborious Knocks” throughout coaching camp. Johnson wore a custom-made chain that includes 80 carats of emeralds and diamonds spelling out “Woody,” a present from star cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Then Rodgers tore his Achilles on the fourth play of the season, and all the pieces modified. Following surgical procedure, Rodgers rehabbed with the objective of doubtless returning on the finish of the season, however provided that the Jets had been nonetheless in playoff competition.

In Week 14, New York was mathematically eradicated with a 30-0 loss to the Dolphins. Rodgers most well-liked to rehab on his personal in Los Angeles with an eye fixed towards the 2024 season, however Johnson, in line with crew sources, insisted that Rodgers apply with the crew, so the quarterback reluctantly returned to New York. When Rodgers was activated off injured reserve 5 days earlier than Christmas, which resulted within the launch of fullback Nick Bawden, Rodgers stated on “The Pat McAfee Present” that the transfer wasn’t his concept.

“There was a dialog: ‘Do you need to apply?’ And I stated, ‘Not on the expense of someone getting lower.’ I understand how this works,” Rodgers stated. “I didn’t really feel like I wanted to apply to proceed my rehab. I may do on-the-field stuff on the aspect. However clearly I received overruled there.”

A number of Jets gamers and coaches — Garrett Wilson and working again Breece Corridor, specifically — had been sad with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett all through the 2023 marketing campaign. There have been rumblings that Johnson needed to fireplace Hackett, so Rodgers, who considers the coach a detailed good friend, introduced it up with the proprietor on the finish of the season. The dialog “didn’t go over properly” with Johnson, in line with a present Jets government.

Johnson finally didn’t pressure Saleh to fireplace Hackett, as he had with Mike LaFleur after the 2022 season. Within the offseason, Saleh tried to rent a veteran offensive coach to hitch the Jets employees and doubtlessly scale back Hackett’s position, talking with Arthur Smith, Kliff Kingsbury, Luke Getsy and Eric Bieniemy. Rodgers received on the telephone in an try and recruit, however every coach took jobs with offensive coordinator titles elsewhere.

Earlier than this season, in line with a crew supply, Johnson demanded that Saleh’s signature phrase — “All Gasoline, No Brakes” — be stripped off the partitions across the facility. “One other fully out-of-context and false narrative,” the crew spokesperson stated. “That was eliminated as a part of the complete organizational rebrand.” Saleh later launched a brand new crew motto: “Love and Regard,” which was not displayed on the power’s partitions.

Rodgers and Johnson spoke on Oct. 7, simply after the Jets misplaced to the Vikings in London to drop to 2-3, a recreation behind the Payments within the AFC East with Buffalo coming to MetLife Stadium the next Monday evening. In accordance with a crew supply, Rodgers implored Johnson to stay affected person.

The next morning, Saleh referred to as Rodgers to let him know he was demoting Hackett and putting in passing recreation coordinator Todd Downing as the brand new play caller. Rodgers made it clear to Saleh that he didn’t agree with the choice — a lot in order that Saleh advised his employees to get backup Tyrod Taylor able to play in case a banged-up, disgruntled Rodgers wouldn’t, in line with a crew supply.

Shortly afterward, round 10 a.m. ET, Woody and Christopher Johnson, Woody’s brother and the Jets’ vice chairman, walked into Saleh’s workplace. Woody advised Saleh he was fired. Saleh requested why. Woody advised him he didn’t suppose Saleh may flip the season round and that the crew wanted a spark. Then the Johnsons walked out of the room.

Ulbrich, put in because the interim coach, went ahead with Saleh’s plan to demote Hackett and managed to calm the waters with Rodgers, who hadn’t been in favor of firing Saleh, in line with a number of crew sources.

On the Dec. 3 episode of McAfee’s present, Rodgers, in reference to the 12-2 Detroit Lions, talked about how a lot of a distinction it makes when homeowners again their coaches and basic managers each privately and publicly. The subsequent day, he was requested by members of the media if he felt that Jets possession operates in that method.

“Is {that a} rhetorical query?” Rodgers stated. “I cited an instance I’ve seen. There have been different examples in Inexperienced Bay, each for and perhaps not, as for whoever was in cost. However I believe it’s an necessary a part of possession to rent the fitting guys, set the imaginative and prescient and help them when the surface world is making an attempt to tear them down.”

On follow-up, he was requested once more whether or not he believes that’s been finished in New York. “I’d must look,” he replied. “I’ll ask you guys, has there been a variety of public feedback? Supportive feedback?”

The response from reporters that day? Not likely, there have been firings.

“Yeah, there’s your reply,” Rodgers replied.

The Jets stored the alternate out of the transcript of Rodgers’ information convention.

Along with firing the pinnacle coach and basic supervisor and suggesting the benching of the star quarterback, Johnson has pursued cuts throughout the Jets group.

This offseason, he compelled Saleh to fireplace 5 coaches and wouldn’t enable Douglas to exchange former assistant GM Rex Hogan (who Johnson compelled Douglas to fireplace in January). “The open position was used to re-organize the employees,” the crew spokesperson stated. “The notion that he didn’t need that place changed is unfaithful. The obligations had been stuffed by staff who deserved promotions.”

The Jets didn’t rent officers for coaching camp, a regular apply within the NFL, after being essentially the most penalized crew within the league in 2023 (they’re the third-most penalized crew in 2024). They did have officers for 2 joint practices with the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, respectively.

A number of males from Johnson’s funding group have been attending free agent, draft and different soccer operations conferences at Johnson’s behest over the past yr, in line with a present Jets government. They’ve additionally interviewed Jets staff from throughout the group about their roles and methods they really feel the Jets can enhance. “It was a optimistic initiative that recognized actual gaps in course of and communication and collaboration,” the Jets spokesperson stated. “(Woody Johnson) values the impartial suggestions. It’s a approach to keep away from groupthink. We discovered rather a lot from it.”

A number of Jets staff check with the group of males as “The Bobs,” a nod to the condescending company effectivity consultants from the movie “Workplace House.” The arrival of “The Bobs” has solely heightened a way of dread across the constructing, the place some staff don’t really feel like they will converse freely.

“There’s no good approach to say what we have to say, which is: Until we drastically alter our tradition and the best way we do issues from the highest down, we now have no probability,” one government stated. “There’s not a snug surroundings the place you possibly can converse your thoughts and attempt to tackle issues that would enhance the state of affairs. It’s important to tiptoe round it.”

The Jets spokesperson disputed that characterization. “That’s only a false premise,” the spokesperson stated. “(Woody Johnson) actually simply seeks out and welcomes suggestions and debate. We wouldn’t have been named the most effective locations to work in New Jersey if individuals thought that method … there’s by no means been a grievance.”

Whether or not or not Aaron Rodgers will return for a 3rd season in New York is among the key questions dealing with the Jets this offseason. (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Photos)

As lately as three-and-a-half years in the past, there was a unique ambiance at Florham Park. Woody Johnson’s absence in the course of the first Trump presidential time period meant that Christopher was working the present.

Like Woody, Christopher Johnson was influenced maybe too closely by media protection — one crew supply stated he was identified to lean on outstanding media members for recommendation throughout his head coach and GM searches in 2019 — however the impression he gave to many within the constructing was that he needed to provide the keys to the individuals he employed and allow them to take the wheel.

“Chris was actually, actually laid again,” stated a former Jets coach. “He’s not an individual with any sort of ego. When he would discuss with you, he was actually an everyday dude. He by no means, ever acted like he was the proprietor or he was in cost; he was simply mainly making an attempt to get alongside.”

When Christopher Johnson employed Douglas (in 2019) and Saleh (in 2021), each had been below the impression that, when he returned, Woody Johnson would take a equally hands-off strategy. They shortly discovered how unsuitable that assumption was as Woody took management and Chris stepped again.

“It’s not like he simply disappeared, however you wouldn’t know if Chris was within the constructing and even within the room with you,” a former Jets government stated. “He’s simply so quiet and reserved. And that’s not a foul factor.”

Some Jets staff hoped Woody may retake his ambassadorship within the U.Ok. after Donald Trump was elected president in November, which might as soon as once more put Christopher in cost. However on Dec. 2, Trump nominated billionaire Arkansas funding banker Warren Stephens to the publish. In accordance with crew sources, the choice got here as a shock to the Jets proprietor.

Because the Jets shut the 2024 season, they’ll enter an offseason promising wholesale change, acquainted territory for a company that hasn’t discovered a lot stability since Johnson purchased the franchise from the property of Leon Hess in 2000. In 25 years, the Jets have employed eight interim or full-time head coaches (9 in the event you depend Belichick) and 7 basic managers. They’ll want one other new head coach and basic supervisor and should resolve in the event that they need to carry Rodgers again for what could be his twenty first NFL season — if he desires to return.

These choices stay Woody Johnson’s to make.

(Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; pictures: Chris Coduto, Matthew Stockman, Cooper Neil, Perry Knotts / Getty Photos)