Woody Johnson may cost NY Jets their shot at this top HC candidate

The NY Jets are expected to cast a wide net in search of their next head coach this offseason. The Jets have already been connected to a variety of candidates including Aaron Glenn, Mike Vrabel, Arthur Smith, and, of course, Rex Ryan.

But there's one candidate that stands out among the rest as the belle of the ball of this year's hiring cycle. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is expected to have his fair share of options this offseason.

Johnson is widely seen as the top candidate on the market, and the Jets are reportedly one of a host of teams expected to be interested. There's one problem, though — the feeling might not be mutual.

Johnson is reportedly expected to be very particular when choosing his next destination and supposedly has two criteria teams must meet before he interviews. The Jets might not meet that criteria.

Ben Johnson might not be interested in the NY Jets

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported this weekend that Johnson is searching for not only "organizational alignment between the general manager and head coach" but also an organization that's willing to recognize "what went wrong previously and their willingness to fix it."

The first part of that shouldn't be an issue. The Jets will be in the market for both a new head coach and general manager this offseason. The plan is to hire a completely new regime and start fresh.

The issue lies in the second point, mostly as it relates to team owner Woody Johnson. Johnson doesn't have a reputation as someone who self-reflects and admits mistakes. He's also not one to show a willingness to correct his past errors.

Woody's overbearing tendencies and recent history of stripping power from the previous regime probably won't go over well with prospective candidates. For someone like Ben Johnson who will have his pick of the litter, it's hard to imagine he would choose the Jets.

The Jets aren't necessarily the least attractive option for a head coach candidate. They have a solid young core with a competent young offensive line, Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, and plenty of building blocks on defense. They also offer an opportunity for a blank slate with a new GM and probably a new QB.

Unfortunately, Johnson's presence will scare away certain candidates. If Ben Johnson is looking for organizational stability and an owner willing to admit past mistakes, the Jets probably aren't his dream destination.

This isn't to say the Jets will be unable to land a candidate they want, but if Johnson is at the top of their wishlist, they might have to go in a different direction. That's the Woody Johnson tax.

More NY Jets news and analysis: