NFL insider confirms what Jets fans already knew about Jermaine Johnson

The New York Jets made waves Thursday morning when they shipped former first-round pick Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans for defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat, kicking off an offseason that should see many changes in New York.

The deal didn't come out of the blue, though. There was chatter around a potential trade at last year's midseason deadline, and Johnson's actions towards the end of the 2025 seemed to signal his days in New York were numbered.

ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler confirmed shortly after the trade that the Florida State product was interested in a change of scenery, and he was certainly granted it.

"Johnson has quietly wanted out of New York and targeted a reunion with Titans coach Robert Saleh as one of his preferred options. Jets find him a home while adding run-stuffing help."

Jeremy Fowler

Jermaine Johnson receives long-awaited trade away from Jets

If you were reading between the lines at the tail end of the 2025 season, it was fairly obvious Johnson wasn't buying the message that head coach Aaron Glenn was selling to the Jets' locker room.

Once December rolled around, things had really begun to spiral out of control in New York, and the cracks began to show after a 48-20 drubbing at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Johnson and teammate Quincy Williams, both holdovers from the Robert Saleh era, refused to speak with reporters, ducking tough questions after one of the worst defensive efforts of the season.

After another blowout loss from the eventual AFC Champion New England Patriots in Week 17, Glenn questioned the effort of his team following the 42-10 one-sided affair.

He would later walk back the effort comments, but the effect on the locker room lingered. Johnson scoffed when informed of Glenn's postgame comments, via SNY's Connor Hughes.

"Man, I gotta go watch the tape. I'm not sure. It's funny, we talked about commitment before the game. Regardless of the record and everything else. All of us signed to play here, and we all made a commitment to this team regardless. That was all that was going through my mind."

Jermaine Johnson

The 2025 season wasn't fun for anyone, including players and coaches, and it all culminated in Johnson calling it "the worst season I’ve been a part of as a team" in the wake of the Week 18 finale against the Buffalo Bills.

Clearly, the former first-round pick was fed up, and he had likely been hoping for a change of scenery since the deadline. There were rumors that the Jets were listening to trade offers on Johnson, and Hughes later confirmed that the San Francisco 49ers offered a third-round pick in November.

Instead, the Jets held out until the offseason and got a player back as opposed to a Day 2 draft pick. The Johnson trade is going to sting for a bit. He was a popular player amongst fans. But it was obvious he wanted out, and New York granted him his wish.