Thursday brought a strange revelation from Jets headquarters, bringing Madden into the strange role of roster determinations. Beyond the Jerry Jeudy near-trade quickly becoming one of the odder what-ifs in recent NFL history, the Jets may need to run through some other matters as they attempt to make quality GM and HC hires.
Some of the dysfunction reported does stem from Aaron Rodgers, who effectively kept Nathaniel Hackett employed as the team’s play-caller coming into the season. Before the Jets launched a stealth search for a coach who would cut into Hackett’s duties, The Athletic’s well-detailed Dianna Russini, Zack Rosenblatt and Michael Silver report indicates Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall expressed were not happy with the embattled OC throughout last season (subscription required). This may well have led to a meeting that helped the Rodgers-Woody Johnson relationship reach its present point.
Rumblings circulated that Johnson wanted to fire Hackett after the 2023 season, but Rodgers is believed to have stepped in to prevent that from happening. Rodgers has been close with Hackett since their Green Bay days, long stumping for the veteran OC. This included an offseason meeting with Johnson that “didn’t go over well” with the owner, per The Athletic. Rodgers had brought up this matter with Johnson. Months later, the owner attempted to have the QB benched.
Shortly after that benching effort, Johnson went around GM Joe Douglas and fired Robert Saleh. While Rodgers was accused of being complicit in that ouster, The Athletic notes the quarterback’s conversation with Johnson included a request the owner remain patient with the head coach. This also runs counter to Johnson’s claim the two did not discuss Saleh in that meeting. As could be expected, Rodgers had also told Saleh he disagreed with the then-HC’s decision to demote Hackett — a move interim HC Jeff Ulbrich ended up carrying out anyway.
Going back to Rodgers’ lost 2023 season, the Jets being mathematically eliminated in Week 14 had led Rodgers to cool down his crusade to return from his Achilles tear before season’s end and instead gear up for 2024. This involved continuing to rehab in Los Angeles, but The Athletic adds Johnson pushed the quarterback to come back to New York and return to practice. This prompted the Jets to use one of their injury activations on a player who did not end up playing again. Rodgers expressed disappointment he was activated as it cost fullback Nick Bawden a roster spot. Rodgers said during a Pat McAfee Show appearance the activation — which occurred in Week 16 — was not his idea.
Other strange quarterback incidents have occurred during Johnson’s recent years back from his role as ambassador to the United Kingdom. He is believed to have criticized then-starter Mike White in front of other players, following a Week 17 loss to the Seahawks in which White played through broken ribs. Allegedly saying, “You should throw your helmet; you f—– suck” in reference to White postgame, per Russini, Rosenblatt and Silver. Johnson later apologized to the QB once the owner’s comments eventually got back to him, per a Jets spokesperson. White left in free agency weeks later, leaving the Jets without veteran protection once Rodgers went down.
Postgame criticism from the Johnsons has not been isolated to quarterbacks, as The Athletic adds the owner’s teenage sons — Brick and Jack — were heard “loudly” criticizing multiple players after the Jets’ Week 17 loss to the Browns in 2023. In a separate matter related to access, Johnson also had members of his investment group at Jets draft and free agency meetings this year. These revelations, among others involving access to the team’s locker room, will not exactly endear the Jets to free agents.
Additionally, in a matter perhaps stranger than the Jeudy process, Johnson is believed to have told Douglas to keep the Jets’ Mr. Irrelevant draft choice (No. 257) and instead trade 256 to the Broncos. Denver had asked for No. 257 in the pick-swap trade for Zach Wilson, but the teams ended up finalizing a weeks-long negotiation in a trade that included No. 256 going from Denver to New York. This would be a rather shocking footnote for an eventful Jets year, as this report would have Johnson valuing Mr. Irrelevant-related publicity over a slightly better pick.
White and Wilson are long gone, while Rodgers is viewed as on his way out. But the 2024 Jets draft also included another quarterback, Jordan Travis, chosen in the fifth round. This will amount to a redshirt season for the Florida State alum, who has been on the reserve/NFI list throughout the season. Ulbrich said (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) the ankle injury that altered the Seminoles’ CFP hopes last year remains an issue, indicating Travis has suffered setbacks in his recovery this year.
Unlike Hendon Hooker last year, Travis does not appear set to move onto his team’s active roster before season’s end. This would mean Travis’ contract would toll, extending his rookie deal through 2028. Travis has bigger hurdles to navigate in the short term, however.
Johnson is viewed as likely to stay with the Jets following this season. The news of Donald Trump’s second presidential administration tabbing someone else (banker Warren Stevens) as the UK ambassador surprised Johnson, according to The Athletic. The owner will continue to play the lead role in hiring a coach and GM, doing so after brother Christopher Johnson hired Douglas and Saleh. Some hesitation from candidates certainly could be part of the fallout from recent events becoming public.
Johnson not only proves it doesn’t take brains or skill to be an heir, but proves that you’re never too old to be a spoiled brat. What a yutz.
I can’t think of a worse owner in any sport. Woody is just flat out terrible! He’s a complete embarrassment.
Given what’s happened with Tepper and Haslam in the last few years, it’s crazy to think that Johnson has, all this time, been secretly doing arguably stupider things than we know about those other two doing.
Cards, Bears, & Chargers owners all are in the conversation as well. Nothing but bottom feeders decades in, decades out.
The Spanos family has been so under the radar in their overwhelming incompetence that it’s almost stunningly impressive.
The Jets and Aaron Rodgers are such a perfect fit for each other.
How ? The article clearly points out that Rodgers was not to blame for the majority of these things that Rodgers has been blamed for.
1. Johnson fired Saleh in spite of Rodgers’ wishes
2. Johnson torpedo’d the Jeudy trade because of his sons’ Madden habit
3. Johnson tried to veto the Simpson signing for the same reason
4. Johnson fired Douglas midseason after sabotaging his strategy
5. Johnson openly criticized players (or, rather, openly insulted them) in front of the team
6. Johnson let his teenage brats do the same
7. Johnson and his brats hijacked game balls meant for others post game after one of the Jets’ few victories
8. Johnson attempted to have Rodgers benched several times throughout the year
I know I’m the minority by far, but the more that comes out, the more that it’s clear that Rodgers really has been blamed for a lot that isn’t his fault. It’s like Jerry Jones-people hear his name and just default to saying something insulting as an instinct. Rodgers definitely deserves criticism for some of his decisions (like standing up for so long for Hackett, who was/is terrible, and skipping some of his off-season work to go to Egypt), but treating him as being on the same level as Johnson is just astonishing to me. Johnson is who destroyed the Jets, not the quarterback who’s thrown 23 touchdowns to 8 interceptions.
“Majority” is doing some heavy lifting when you’re the Jets. There’s plenty of blame to share.
Which is all the more impressive (unimpressive?) when it’s true. The more that I see, the more it becomes apparent that Johnson has had the biggest hand in all of this. Poor supervision leads to poor execution, in any field.
I love(d) Rodgers the player — the quieter, more mobile version, but can you imagine trying to coach that guy now? Tons of influence and he’s knows it. And in my opinion abuses it.
Johnson was born on 2B only because what he needed to born on 3B ended up on the sheets
I get the “Mr. Irrelevant” deal much more than the use of Madden ratings via his sons to pooh-pooh JD’s trade for Jeudy. Nick Gargiulo is still with the Broncos practice squad but he was just as much a flier as Jaylen Key who’s now with the Bengals.
The Jets have proven how disastrous an organization becomes when run like a bureaucracy. Too many voices having a say in how things should be done. Al Davis had his faults but his word was the only word that counted in the Raiders organization. Back in the 70s the teams “commitment to excellence” tagline actually meant something meaningful.