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

In February of last year, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson sat at his home in Palm Beach, Florida, discussing potential offseason moves with team decision-makers as they reviewed game footage. During the session, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, a former first-round pick of the Denver Broncos, appeared on screen. Jets General Manager Joe Douglas expressed interest in acquiring him, according to someone familiar with the conversation. Johnson, in response, took out his phone and began typing.https://wordpress.com/

A few weeks later, Douglas and Broncos GM George Paton were deep in talks for a trade that would send Jeudy to the Jets, adding another weapon for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Broncos were confident the deal was close. However, at the last minute, the trade fell apart, leaving the Broncos in disbelief. According to several league sources, Johnson’s reason for rejecting the deal was tied to Jeudy’s player rating in the popular video game Madden NFL, which he felt was too low. The Broncos eventually traded Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns. Just a week ago, Jeudy reached a personal milestone by surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career.

Coming into the season, the Jets had high hopes of ending a 13-year playoff drought—the longest active streak in the four major North American sports—while dispelling years of dysfunction surrounding the franchise. Instead, the season has only reinforced their troubled reputation.

Head coach Robert Saleh was fired after just five games, and General Manager Joe Douglas was let go six weeks later. Johnson publicly suggested benching Rodgers, later claiming it was a joke to gauge how it would be handled. A week later, the Jets acquired Rodgers’ close friend and former teammate, wide receiver Davante Adams. Despite these moves, the Jets have struggled, sitting at a 4-10 record and destined to miss the playoffs for a 14th consecutive year.

As another offseason of upheaval looms, the root of the franchise’s problems is Johnson, who has been described by over 20 former and current employees—ranging from players to executives—as an impulsive and overly involved owner. These sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to openly discuss the dysfunction they’ve experienced within the organization.

“They keep making the same mistake: They change the people on the football side. The problem isn’t the football people,” one former executive said. “It’s like being told you have cancer, and the solution is ‘Just cut off your foot.’”

Despite Johnson’s significant investment in the team, including a high-profile gamble on quarterback Rodgers, his actions have raised questions. He has been accused of belittling his players, taking advice from his teenage sons, and making decisions based on trivial factors such as Madden ratings. The proposed Jeudy trade was not the only instance where Johnson consulted video game data to evaluate players.

“There are teams where everything is structured for success. The Jets, though, feel completely different. It’s the most dysfunctional environment you can imagine,” said one former player.

In 2019, before a preseason game against the Giants, an administrative assistant in the coaching offices at MetLife Stadium had to inform head coach Adam Gase and his staff that Johnson, who was serving as U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom at the time, would be temporarily returning to the U.S. and should be referred to as “Mr. Ambassador.” This awkward tone has persisted, even after Johnson returned to his role as the Jets’ owner in 2021, with many insiders citing a history of mismanagement under his leadership.

“I had never been around royalty before,” one assistant coach remarked.

Johnson, heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, spends much of his time at the Jets’ facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, where he frequently meets with the head coach and GM. When he purchased the team in 2000, Johnson was under the impression that Bill Belichick would be the Jets’ head coach—until Belichick famously resigned after just one day, leaving the franchise in disarray. For the past two decades, Belichick has consistently outperformed the Jets both on and off the field, mocking Johnson in various media appearances, even reaching out about the Jets’ head coaching vacancy.

In a memorable moment on ESPN’s “ManningCast” in October, Belichick criticized Johnson’s approach to running the Jets, describing it as “ready, fire, aim,” a sentiment shared by many within the organization. Johnson’s own remarks, such as his assertion that “thinking is overrated,” have only reinforced this perception.

“Woody acts on impulse,” said one current Jets executive. “It’s like ‘I’m right, prove me wrong.’ The unpredictability of his decisions makes it impossible to know what to expect. Sometimes he’s right, but when he’s wrong, no one holds him accountable.”

During the NFL Draft, Johnson is known for retreating to a nearby snack bar after leaving decision-making meetings, often offering snarky comments about the front office’s choices. One former executive recalled Johnson vocally criticizing former GM Mike Maccagnan for selecting quarterback Christian Hackenberg in the second round of the 2016 draft—a pick that ultimately proved disastrous, as Hackenberg never played a single snap for the Jets.

Some believe that Johnson is more focused on the public image of the team than on actual football success. For example, when the Jets traded quarterback Zach Wilson to the Broncos last April, Johnson reportedly insisted that the Jets acquire the “Mr. Irrelevant” pick—the last pick in the draft—instead of a more strategic selection. The Jets used that pick on Alabama safety Jaylen Key, who was cut before the season began, while the Broncos used their pick on offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo, who made the team’s active roster.

Johnson is known for his hands-on approach to decision-making, frequently involving himself in everything from lineup choices to the team schedule. His influence can be seen in several controversial moments, including forcing interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich to bench safety Tony Adams and pushing for practices during the Jets’ bye week, much to the displeasure of team leaders.

“Your job is managing Woody,” said a current executive. “It’s not just about handling him, though. You also have to manage everyone who influences him—whether that’s family, media, or people within the building.”

When Johnson returned to the Jets after his stint as U.S. ambassador, he began involving his sons, Brick and Jack, in meetings at the team facility. This raised eyebrows, as Johnson often cited his sons’ opinions—particularly from social media or articles they read—when making decisions about players or team matters. For instance, Johnson reportedly rejected signing free-agent guard John Simpson due to his low “awareness” rating in Madden, although Simpson was later signed and has had a solid season.

Although the Jets spokesperson denied that Johnson’s sons influenced team decisions, multiple sources from within the organization described their increasing involvement as troubling, particularly when their opinions appeared to hold weight alongside those of experienced executives.

In 2022, following a loss to the Seahawks, Woody Johnson was overheard insulting quarterback Mike White in the locker room. That year, Johnson’s sons also reportedly disparaged certain players. In a particularly uncomfortable moment this season, after a victory against the Giants, Brick Johnson awarded a game ball to wide receiver Garrett Wilson in an unorthodox and profanity-laced manner, before Johnson himself handed another ball to interim coach Ulbrich. The moment was described by one player as “awkward, cringe-worthy, and brutal.”

Despite high expectations heading into the season—bolstered by the addition of Rodgers—the Jets’ performance has been dismal. Rodgers’ season was derailed after he tore his Achilles in the fourth play of the opener. He later rehabbed with the hope of returning, but Johnson insisted that Rodgers practice with the team, even though Rodgers had preferred to rehab privately in Los Angeles.

As the Jets continue to struggle, Johnson’s erratic decision-making and public comments, such as his criticism of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and his dismissal of head coach Saleh, have only added to the sense of dysfunction surrounding the franchise. Despite this, Johnson has continued to make cuts and force organizational changes, including firing coaches and rejecting standard NFL practices, such as hiring officials for training camp.

Johnson’s involvement in the Jets organization is so pervasive that some staff members refer to his investment group as “The Bobs,” a nod to the corporate consultants from the movie Office Space who are known for micromanaging with little regard for actual expertise. Many employees feel that they can no longer speak openly, further contributing to the growing sense of dread within the organization.

“It’s become clear,” said one source, “that unless we completely overhaul our culture and the way we operate, things won’t change.”