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 workforce decision-makers as they watched sport tape. Broad receiver Jerry Jeudy, a former Denver Broncos first-round choose, flashed on the display. Jets normal supervisor Joe Douglas expressed curiosity, in accordance with somebody accustomed to the assembly. Johnson took out his cellphone and began typing.
A number of weeks later, Douglas and his Broncos counterpart, George Paton, had been deep in negotiations for a commerce that might 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 govt places of work, they couldn’t imagine the explanation why.
Douglas informed the Broncos that Johnson didn’t wish 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 accordance 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’ popularity.
Head coach Robert Saleh was fired 5 video games into the marketing campaign. Douglas was fired six weeks later. Johnson advised benching Rodgers because of poor efficiency — a Jets spokesperson mentioned the proprietor was “being provocative. He made the assertion in jest to see how it might be dealt with.” Every week later, the Jets traded for Davante Adams, the All-Professional wideout and Rodgers’ shut pal and former teammate in Inexperienced Bay. New York has stumbled to a 4-10 file 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 folks in and across the Jets group — present and former gamers, coaches and workforce executives — who had been granted anonymity with a view to communicate overtly with out worry of reprisal.
“They carry on doing the identical factor again and again: they alter the soccer folks. The soccer persons are not the problem,” one former govt mentioned. “It’s, ‘Hey, I’ve mind most cancers.’ And, ‘Effectively, simply reduce off your foot.’”
Johnson, who declined The Athletic’s request for remark, soured on his franchise quarterback lower than a yr after betting massive on him, denigrated his personal gamers within the locker room and appeared to comply with decision-making recommendation from his teenage sons, in accordance with numerous workforce 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,” mentioned a participant with the workforce in 2023. “It feels fully completely 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 workforce’s teaching places of work to make an announcement to then-head coach Adam Gase and his workers. Woody Johnson, then serving as U.S. ambassador to the UK within the Trump administration, was briefly getting back from London. The assistant mentioned everybody ought to consult with Johnson as “Mr. Ambassador.”
That has held true lengthy after Johnson left authorities and returned to his function as Jets chairman in January 2021, putting a discordant tone amongst those that imagine the group has lengthy been stricken by mismanagement.
“I suppose that’s what you’d name him,” one assistant coach mentioned. “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 infrequently meets with the pinnacle coach and normal supervisor. When he purchased the workforce 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 sooner or later, 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 sphere 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 night time sport between the Jets and Payments on Oct. 14 — New York’s first sport since firing Saleh — Belichick described the proprietor’s method to working the group as “prepared, hearth, 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 mentioned, “Pondering is overrated.”
“Woody is simply performing on intuition,” mentioned a present Jets govt. “With Woody, it’s like, ‘I’m proper — show me mistaken.’ You simply don’t know what to anticipate … He’s been proper sufficient, simply together with his random opinions, that (a foul determination) doesn’t dissuade him. And when he’s mistaken, who’s gonna maintain him accountable?”
Throughout the annual NFL Draft, Johnson is thought to maintain to himself whereas choices are being made, in accordance with one former govt, then exit the room and retreat to a close-by snack bar with confidants to make “smart-ass traces” concerning the entrance workplace’s choices. Group decision-makers didn’t recognize Johnson’s after-the-fact critiques, however the proprietor was sometimes confirmed right: The manager remembers Johnson being particularly vocal when former normal 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 imagine 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 choose of the draft (257th total). In line with a supply accustomed to the negotiations, Johnson instructed Douglas to as an alternative commerce the 256th choose — which the Jets additionally owned — so New York may choose “Mr. Irrelevant,” the ultimate choose of the draft who’s yearly celebrated upon his choice.
“Are you able to imagine that?” the supply mentioned. “He thought he wanted the Mr. Irrelevant choose to get a Brock Purdy (the ultimate choose 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 workforce wished a worse choose.”
The Broncos used choose No. 256 to take offensive guard Nick Gargiulo, who’s now on the Broncos’ energetic roster. The Jets used the “Mr. Irrelevant” choose on Alabama security Jaylen Key, who didn’t survive the ultimate roster cutdown and is now not on their apply squad.
Johnson weighs in on issues all through the group, from lineup choices (he pressured interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich to bench beginning security Tony Adams in November) to the workforce schedule (he wished the Jets to apply throughout their bye week, a lot to the chagrin of workforce leaders). “He’s like most workforce house owners,” the workforce spokesperson mentioned. “He asks questions of his workers to higher perceive what their plans are.”
“Your job turns into managing Woody,” a present workforce govt mentioned. “That’s not distinctive for an NFL GM — the distinction right here is that not solely are you managing Woody, however you need to handle all of the individuals who affect him. That could possibly be household, that could possibly be media, that could possibly be folks within the constructing.”
An inheritor to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune, Woody Johnson bought the Jets for $635 million in January 2000. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Photos)
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 workforce facility. For some Jets workers, the sons’ growing involvement clarified their father’s propensity for sharing posts from X and articles from numerous retailers, together with a weblog known as “Jets X-Issue,” with the group’s high 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,” mentioned one Jets govt.
“I reply to an adolescent,” Douglas quipped to folks 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 because of a lackluster “consciousness” score in Madden. The Jets signed Simpson anyway, and he has had a strong season: Professional Soccer Focus presently has him graded because the eighth-best guard within the NFL.
The Jets spokesperson disputed the concept that Brick and Jack’s observations influence the group’s decision-making course of. “It’s used as a reference level; it’s not determinative,” the spokesperson mentioned. “It’s actually unhappy that an grownup would use a deceptive anecdote about youngsters to make their father look dangerous. It’s ridiculous, fairly actually, 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 outdoors data is meant to switch the opinions of (Woody Johnson’s) workers.”
The Johnson household’s habits contained in the Jets locker room has additionally grow to be a difficulty, in accordance with workforce and league sources. NFL locker rooms are restricted-access areas sometimes restricted to gamers, coaches, workforce personnel and media members. However Brick and Jack have introduced associates — female and male — into the locker room, and present and former gamers and coaches informed 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 way of damaged ribs in a late-season sport towards the Seahawks with postseason hopes on the road. White performed poorly; the Jets misplaced and had been eradicated from playoff rivalry. After the sport, with the quarterback within the showers after throwing his helmet to the locker room ground, a number of Jets gamers mentioned they heard Woody Johnson say, “You ought to throw your helmet, you f—ing suck.” The assertion acquired again to White. The workforce spokesperson mentioned 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 mentioned they heard Johnson’s sons loudly disparaging sure Jets gamers.
This yr, on Halloween night time, the Jets registered their first victory since Saleh’s firing 4 weeks earlier. It was a major second for a struggling workforce. Rodgers walked into an energized locker room with a sport 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 communicate, Brick Johnson took one other sport 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 mentioned the power felt drained out of the room.
“It was essentially the most awkward, cringe-worthy, brutal expertise,” one participant mentioned.
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 just a little “lonely.” New York entered the 2023 season as one of many league’s buzziest groups — and probably Tremendous Bowl contenders — and the Jets had been chosen to look on HBO’s “Arduous 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 rivalry.
In Week 14, New York was mathematically eradicated with a 30-0 loss to the Dolphins. Rodgers most popular to rehab on his personal in Los Angeles with an eye fixed towards the 2024 season, however Johnson, in accordance with workforce sources, insisted that Rodgers apply with the workforce, 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 mentioned on “The Pat McAfee Present” that the transfer wasn’t his concept.
“There was a dialog: ‘Do you wish to apply?’ And I mentioned, ‘Not on the expense of any individual getting reduce.’ I understand how this works,” Rodgers mentioned. “I didn’t really feel like I wanted to apply to proceed my rehab. I may do on-the-field stuff on the facet. However clearly I acquired overruled there.”
A number of Jets gamers and coaches — Garrett Wilson and working again Breece Corridor, particularly — had been sad with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett all through the 2023 marketing campaign. There have been rumblings that Johnson wished to fireside Hackett, so Rodgers, who considers the coach a detailed pal, introduced it up with the proprietor on the finish of the season. The dialog “didn’t go over nicely” with Johnson, in accordance with a present Jets govt.
Johnson finally didn’t drive Saleh to fireside Hackett, as he had with Mike LaFleur after the 2022 season. Within the offseason, Saleh tried to rent a veteran offensive coach to affix the Jets workers and probably scale back Hackett’s function, talking with Arthur Smith, Kliff Kingsbury, Luke Getsy and Eric Bieniemy. Rodgers acquired on the cellphone in an try to recruit, however every coach took jobs with offensive coordinator titles elsewhere.
Earlier than this season, in accordance with a workforce supply, Johnson demanded that Saleh’s signature phrase — “All Fuel, No Brakes” — be stripped off the partitions across the facility. “One other fully out-of-context and false narrative,” the workforce spokesperson mentioned. “That was eliminated as a part of the complete organizational rebrand.” Saleh later launched a brand new workforce 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 sport behind the Payments within the AFC East with Buffalo coming to MetLife Stadium the next Monday night time. In line with a workforce supply, Rodgers implored Johnson to stay affected person.
The next morning, Saleh known as Rodgers to let him know he was demoting Hackett and putting in passing sport 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 informed his workers to get backup Tyrod Taylor able to play in case a banged-up, disgruntled Rodgers wouldn’t, in accordance with a workforce 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 informed Saleh he was fired. Saleh requested why. Woody informed him he didn’t suppose Saleh may flip the season round and that the workforce 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 accordance with a number of workforce 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 house owners again their coaches and normal 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 manner.
“Is {that a} rhetorical query?” Rodgers mentioned. “I cited an instance I’ve seen. There have been different examples in Inexperienced Bay, each for and possibly not, as for whoever was in cost. However I believe it’s an vital a part of possession to rent the suitable 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 executed in New York. “I’d should look,” he replied. “I’ll ask you guys, has there been lots of public feedback? Supportive feedback?”
The response from reporters that day? Probably not, there have been firings.
“Yeah, there’s your reply,” Rodgers replied.
The Jets saved the trade out of the transcript of Rodgers’ information convention.
Along with firing the pinnacle coach and normal supervisor and suggesting the benching of the star quarterback, Johnson has pursued cuts throughout the Jets group.
This offseason, he pressured Saleh to fireside 5 coaches and wouldn’t permit Douglas to switch former assistant GM Rex Hogan (who Johnson pressured Douglas to fireside in January). “The open function was used to re-organize the workers,” the workforce spokesperson mentioned. “The notion that he didn’t need that place changed is unfaithful. The tasks had been crammed by workers who deserved promotions.”
The Jets didn’t rent officers for coaching camp, a normal apply within the NFL, after being essentially the most penalized workforce within the league in 2023 (they’re the third-most penalized workforce 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 accordance with a present Jets govt. They’ve additionally interviewed Jets workers from throughout the group about their roles and methods they really feel the Jets can enhance. “It was a constructive initiative that recognized actual gaps in course of and communication and collaboration,” the Jets spokesperson mentioned. “(Woody Johnson) values the unbiased suggestions. It’s a technique to keep away from groupthink. We discovered so much from it.”
A number of Jets workers consult 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 workers don’t really feel like they will communicate freely.
“There’s no good technique to say what we have to say, which is: Except we drastically alter our tradition and the best way we do issues from the highest down, we have now no probability,” one govt mentioned. “There’s not a cushty setting the place you possibly can communicate your thoughts and attempt to handle 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 mentioned. “(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 folks thought that manner … 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 not too long ago as three-and-a-half years in the past, there was a unique environment at Florham Park. Woody Johnson’s absence throughout 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 workforce supply mentioned he was recognized to lean on distinguished 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 wished to present the keys to the folks he employed and allow them to take the wheel.
“Chris was actually, actually laid again,” mentioned 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 beneath the impression that, when he returned, Woody Johnson would take a equally hands-off method. They shortly discovered how mistaken 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 govt mentioned. “He’s simply so quiet and reserved. And that’s not a foul factor.”
Some Jets workers hoped Woody would possibly 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 line with workforce 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 if you happen to depend Belichick) and 7 normal managers. They’ll want one other new head coach and normal supervisor and should resolve in the event that they wish to convey Rodgers again for what can be his twenty first NFL season — if he desires to return.
These choices stay Woody Johnson’s to make.
(Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; images: Chris Coduto, Matthew Stockman, Cooper Neil, Perry Knotts / Getty Photos)