The New York Jets’ turmoil deepens. Despite a string of setbacks—including Aaron Rodgers’ poor performance on the field, significant staff shake-ups, and troubling reports about team owner Woody Johnson’s family—things seem to be getting worse.
Even Rodgers, the team’s star quarterback, has publicly poked fun at the situation. Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday, Rodgers laughed along when asked if Woody Johnson’s teenage son, Brick, would be the one to make the decision to cut him from the team.
“I’ve never been released before, so being released would be a first,” Rodgers joked. “Being released by a teenager, that would also be a first. I’m open to everything, and you know, I find the comedy in all of it. If that happens… it’s a great story.”
Last week, The Athletic published a damning report that painted a troubling picture of Woody Johnson’s leadership. The article detailed how Johnson reportedly relied on player ratings from EA Sports’ Madden video game to help assess players. Insiders claimed Johnson gave his teenage sons—who began attending team meetings last year—an unusual amount of influence in team decisions. The sons, Brick and Jack, were also said to have brought friends into the locker room, where they, along with their parents, openly criticized players.
The article also recounted a bizarre Halloween incident when Brick Johnson took the game ball intended for the interim coach and handed it to a wide receiver, prompting his father to step in and redirect the ball to the coach.
“I answer to a teenager,” said Joe Douglas, the Jets’ former general manager, who was fired in November, according to the report.
In response, a Jets spokesperson dismissed the accusations. The spokesperson said the Johnson sons’ input is “used as a reference point” but does not directly influence decisions. The spokesperson also criticized the Madden story as “misleading” and “ridiculous,” calling it a distortion aimed at damaging Woody Johnson’s reputation.
The Jets’ on-field struggles have only added to the drama. The team has won just four games this season, including two since firing head coach Robert Saleh in early October. Rodgers has voiced support for Saleh both before and after his firing. Reports also suggest that Woody Johnson considered benching Rodgers just days before making the decision to fire Saleh.
In a twist, the Johnson family’s involvement in the Jets could lessen if Woody Johnson is appointed to another government post by former President Donald Trump. Johnson served as U.S. ambassador to the U.K. during Trump’s first term, and insiders believe he could be tapped for another role in the second administration. However, Trump has yet to announce any position for Johnson.
When Johnson was ambassador, his brother Chris took over the management of the Jets, and Rodgers has stated that he has a closer relationship with Chris than with Woody.
If Brick Johnson or anyone else decides to part ways with Rodgers, it could come at a hefty cost. If the Jets release Rodgers, they would face a $49 million dead cap hit. Rodgers, who has one year left on his contract and a no-trade clause, has yet to commit to his future in the NFL.
