Woody Johnson's latest embarrassment reinforces harsh truth about Jets culture

Just one normal week — is that too much to ask? New York Jets owner Woody Johnson continues to find ways to embarrass himself and the organization, and on Friday, he took it one step further, humiliating the entire NFL in the process.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the league informed teams that it prevailed in its grievance against the NFLPA, meaning the players’ annual team report cards will no longer be made public. An arbitrator ruled that the NFLPA violated the CBA and ordered the program shut down.

Johnson famously dismissed last year’s NFLPA report cards as “totally bogus” after Jets players handed him the only 'F' grade in the league. Rather than acknowledge the criticism, Johnson rejected it outright.

Now, the mechanism that allowed players to speak anonymously about ownership, facilities, and culture is gone altogether. When players around the NFL warn others against signing with the Jets, this will forever be the biggest reason why.

Woody Johnson is the reason why.

Woody Johnson continues to be the albatross holding the Jets back

The so-called “Jets tax” has long been discussed amongst fans. It's the idea that the franchise must overpay free agents to convince them to come to New York. That tax isn’t just about losing games or instability at quarterback, though those certainly don’t help.

It’s really about organizational reputation. It’s about how players are treated, whether their voices matter, and whether ownership fosters trust or resentment. That stink doesn’t come from the locker room. It comes from the top.

The Jets haven’t made the playoffs in 15 years. They’re coming off another disastrous three-win season and already have better odds of competing for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft than for a postseason berth.

Over that span, coaches, general managers, and quarterbacks have cycled through Florham Park. Woody Johnson has been the lone constant, and increasingly, the common denominator.

That context makes last year’s NFLPA report cards especially damning. Johnson ranked dead last in perceived willingness to invest in team facilities and near the bottom in commitment to building a competitive roster, despite being one of the wealthiest owners in the league.

This wasn’t some media spin or a "bogus" report, as Johnson attempted to claim. It was feedback from players inside the building. Johnson’s response was to dismiss that criticism instead of using it as advice on how to improve.

Since then, reports have surfaced suggesting Johnson once again stepped in and meddled in football operations, this time influencing coaching decisions under Aaron Glenn this offseason.

Whether every detail of those reports is true or not, the perception alone is damaging, and perception is everything in a league where players talk.

Removing the report cards doesn’t erase the criticism, as is clearly Johnson's overall goal. It simply confirms it. Players will still warn each other. Agents will still advise caution. And the Jets will continue paying a premium, not because they lose, but because of who owns them.

Johnson, more than any failed coach or quarterback, has shaped this era of dysfunction. And until that changes, no grievance ruling will fix what’s broken.