Woody Johnson admits his NY Jets mistakes and says the quiet part out loud

The NY Jets introduced Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey to the organization on Monday, and with one powerful introductory press conference, the entire vibe around the franchise transformed.

Glenn and Mougey's arrival has breathed new life into the organization and set the framework for what the team hopes will be a new era of Jets football. The Jets are desperate for a cultural overhaul after decades of residing in the NFL's basement.

The one constant in those years of losing has been owner Woody Johnson. Johnson's impulsive decision-making and overbearing tendencies have derailed the Jets' attempts at progress during his tenure with the organization.

On Monday, Jets owner Woody Johnson made a stunning admission: he acknowledged the need to hold himself accountable and improve. This self-reflection is something Jets fans have been calling for over many frustrating years.

Woody Johnson vows to improve for the NY Jets' success

"I have to look in the mirror and be a better owner," Johnson told reporters in a media scrum following Glenn and Mougey's press conference. It's safe to say Jets fans will agree with that assertion.

Johnson has come under intense scrutiny in recent months for his part in the dysfunctional disaster the Jets franchise has become. He's been accused of overstepping and stripping away power from the last regime, vetoing trades, and even using Madden ratings to determine personnel decisions.

That's not even accounting for the supposed influence of Johnson's teenage son, Brick, who is said to have a legitimate say in the team's roster moves. Johnson's overbearing nature has been a common trend throughout his Jets tenure.

If 2025 is truly going to be the start of a new era for the organization, the change must start at the top with Johnson. Glenn and Mougey can only do so much to overhaul the culture if the franchise's leadership (read: ownership) remains the core problem.

A new era requires more than new faces — it demands a shift in mindset and priorities, starting with Johnson embracing accountability, and taking a step back to empower the people he's entrusted to lead. Only then can the Jets escape their cycle of dysfunction and build a winning foundation.

Johnson seemingly acknowledged just that on Monday. Words alone cannot fix decades of dysfunction, but Monday's press conferences were a solid start. Now, it's up to Woody Johnson to follow through on his commitment to change.

More NY Jets news and analysis: