Woody Johnson resurfaces at Jets camp and nobody is happy about it

Look, I'm not here to pick on Woody Johnson or his much maligned son, but I am here to be honest about how New York Jets fans felt watching the Johnsons stroll onto the field on Day 3 of training camp this past Monday. It's what I was thinking, it's what the players were likely thinking, and it's what Aaron Glenn was definitely thinking.

"Go.... away."

Now, Johnson is unlikely to do that. He owns the team, after all. But I think it's noteworthy that Johnson has made his first appearance with the 2025 Jets. Now that we can tally one on the board, let's hope we don't pick up the chalk anytime too soon.

The meddling by the Johnson family last year (yeah, Brick, I'm looking at you too) was mortifying — both for fans and hopefully the Johnsons. With new leadership, new players, and almost no expectations, we are all hoping that Johnson views it as an opportunity to step aside and let the football guys run the football.

If Woody does want his hands in football this year, he can keep it to the other kind of football and worry about his brand-new soccer team.

Woody Johnson needs to stay away from the Jets in 2025

I'm not sure if this was a surprise. I am certain, actually, that at least somebody knew Woody was coming. But I definitely didn't know. The media didn't seem to know. All of my friends and family who are also fans definitely didn't know, and they all had unkind words for the healthcare tycoon.

It's telling of an owner when his mere presence becomes a news story. Granted, it's people like me who simply decide it's a story. However, I can tell you that when the Mara family heads to the Giants' camp, or the Pegula family heads to the Bills' camp, or the Kraft family heads to the Patriots' camp, either no one notices or no one cares.

Does anyone even know who the Pegula family is? Yeah, I guess they own the Buffalo Bills. Wouldn't it be nice if the Jets had an owner that nobody knew? People certainly know Woody, and people took note of his arrival.

Though I don't have a long list of positive superlatives to hand out to young Brick Johnson, I'm almost glad he was there on Monday. It's fitting. After all, nothing sums up the family (and franchise) dysfunction more than Brick's Madden ratings-based suggestions last year.

The fact that I can say, "the son of the Jets owner almost got him to make football moves based on players' video game ratings," and not be lying is inconceivable.

But that's what happened. Somehow, someway, Brick Johnson had Woody's ear. And considering Woody literally ordered the Jets to bench Tony Adams at one point, I'd say it's a non-zero chance that Woody took some of Brick's advice.

The reason it's fitting is that this is hopefully a "changing of the guard" moment. From Woody to Brick? God, no.

It's the passing of the torch, hopefully, from one era to the next. We now transition from an era where Woody manipulates the front office and coaches like puppets to an era of logic and reason.

An era where, win or lose, the football people make the football decisions and the owners stick to building ugly stadiums. It may seem to be wishful thinking, but I do believe Woody will release his thumb from the scale this year.

Woody didn't interfere much when Rex Ryan and company were winning playoff games. He steps in when things are a disaster (which they almost never aren't). However, although they are unlikely to be a playoff team, the Jets are not a disaster.

They are well-constructed, led by smart folks, and set up for the future. Woody isn't a genius, but he's smart enough to see that — and I think he will finally let things be.

We'll see. The true barometer will be the next time I write a Woody blog. Hopefully, it won't be for several months or more. If things go as they should, that will be the case. We won't hear much of anything from him until more news breaks about his European sports endeavors.

Or his son benches Justin Fields in Week 4. I guess we'll find out.

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