Woody Johnson's impulse to bench Aaron Rodgers proves NY Jets are doomed

The NY Jets can fire their head coach. They can fire their general manager and even bring in a new quarterback. The Jets can overhaul every aspect of the organization in an attempt to rewrite their narrative. But no matter how many changes they make, they can’t escape the deeper dysfunction that seems embedded in their DNA.

They can't escape Woody Johnson.

Johnson is the backbone of their instability, a constant presence at the helm of a franchise that has thrived on chaos and poor decision-making. His influence permeates every layer of the team, creating an environment where mismanagement and misplaced priorities are the norm.

The latest bombshell report from The Athletic published Tuesday night provides further proof of this. Johnson's impulsive and oftentimes nonsensical decisions have derailed the organization countless times.

But perhaps no impulsive thought was more out of pocket than his desire to bench quarterback Aaron Rodgers following the Jets' Week 4 loss to the Denver Broncos. Yes, that actually happened, at least according to the report.

Woody Johnson wanted the NY Jets to bench Aaron Rodgers for Tyrod Taylor

The report states that Johnson called a "contentious meeting" at the Jets' facility following the team's 10-9 loss to the Broncos earlier this year. During the meeting, Johnson reportedly "suggested to the coaches that they bench Aaron Rodgers in favor of Tyrod Taylor because he felt Rodgers’ performance was holding the team back."

Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas were able to talk Johnson out of the decision, but not before a serious discussion was had about benching the future Hall of Famer after just four games, two of which Rodgers and the Jets won.

The fact that Johnson would even suggest and push for such a rash decision is highly concerning, but I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise from the man who infamously told reporters last month that "thinking is overrated."

The entire report goes on to reveal disturbing details about Johnson's power trip as it relates to now-former Jets GM Joe Douglas. Johnson slowly stripped away all of Douglas's power over the last two years until he had virtually none left. His firing on Tuesday was little more than a formality.

While Rodgers has struggled at times this season, it would have been completely asinine to consider benching him after four games, especially given his performance just a week earlier against the New England Patriots in primetime.

Saleh and Douglas rightfully pointed out that benching Rodgers would not only cause a stir in the Jets' locker room, but it would only serve to embarrass the future Hall of Famer. Much like the firing of Saleh, it wouldn't improve the Jets' situation at all.

This isn't meant to make Douglas (or Saleh, for that matter) out to be a martyr. That same report shares multiple details that reflect very poorly on Douglas, from his handling of the Haason Reddick situation to a proposed Jerry Jeudy trade.

But it does implicate much larger issues within the Jets organization. At the heart of it all is Woody Johnson. His tenure as owner has been marked by erratic decision-making, questionable hires, and a culture where dysfunction seems to thrive.

For any NFL franchise, ownership is the foundation. It's what sets the course for the culture, the operations, and the on-field performance. With Johnson in charge, the Jets are building on shaky ground.

Coaches and general managers have come and gone, but the results remain the same — a testament to the fact that organizational dysfunction comes from the very top.

The Jets will attempt another rebuild this offseason with a new regime and a new quarterback to build around, but as long as Woody Johnson is still running the show, the organization will always be trapped in a cycle of dysfunction.

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