Woody Johnson continues to be an obstacle in NY Jets' head coach search

The NY Jets are in the midst of one of the most extensive head coach searches in recent NFL memory with 18 known candidates either interviewed or requested for an interview at the time of writing.

The reason for this large-scale search is simple. The Jets are casting a wide net to gather as much information as possible ahead of one of the most pivotal hires in franchise history. The strategy makes sense.

Not everyone sees it that way, however. Some believe the Jets' extensive but uninspiring list of candidates is a direct result of team owner Woody Johnson and the obstacle he represents in the team's hunt for a new head coach.

The Athletic's Mike Sando took an in-depth look at all current head coach openings around the NFL and reported that the Jets' position is seen as the "toughest job" among those in the league. The presence of owner Woody Johnson is a large reason for that.

Woody Johnson is hurting the NY Jets' ability to land a top HC candidate

Sando and others were similarly unimpressed with how the Jets have handled their hiring process this offseason. An executive from another NFL team commented, “I don’t know what you do for the Jets,” before adding, “I’m not sure they know either.”

The Jets have interviewed as many as 18 different candidates for their head coach position. While other teams are finishing up their interview process and making hires, the Jets have yet to bring in a single candidate for a second interview. That goes for both their head coach and general manager jobs.

Sando went into further detail about why the leaguewide perception of the Jets' job is so negative. An "impulsive owner" combined with "an unforgiving, relentless media market" doesn't help matters, but it extends beyond that.

The next regime will be left with an unfavorable cap situation and no feasible solution at the quarterback position. Aaron Rodgers is no longer a selling point — if anything he's a hindrance.

The decision to leave the hiring process up to The 33rd Team, led by former NFL general managers Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman, has also caught many by surprise.

Some around the league are skeptical of the arrangement and believe Tannenbaum and/or Spielman could stick around in an advisor or mentor role with a first-time general manager, per Sando.

Johnson has been the subject of significant criticism this year for his role in the Jets' dysfunction. From stripping power from his supposed lead decision-makers to rumors of his son's presence in official meetings and making decisions based on Madden ratings it hasn't been a banner year for the Jets' owner.

Those reports seem to have further damaged Johnson's reputation around the league, which wasn't exactly stellar to begin with.

It remains to be seen whether the Jets will secure one of their top candidates, such as Aaron Glenn or Brian Flores. What is clear, however, is that Woody Johnson isn’t doing the team any favors.

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