Woody Johnson vetoed NY Jets trade for the dumbest reason imaginable

The NY Jets are saddled with one of the worst owners in sports. Not only is Woody Johnson incapable of hiring the right football decision-makers, but he has constantly found himself in the middle of drama that makes his team the NFL's equivalent of a genuine soap opera.

One of Johnson's biggest problems is believing that he, a 77-year-old pharmaceutical fortune heir, and his children know more about football than recently deposed head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas. The latest reports of Johnson's maniacal control over this team make it seem like a miracle this team won as much as they did.

According to The Athletic, one of the reasons the Jets did not trade for Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy was the fact that he did not have a very high Madden rating, which is a sign that Johnson's sons Brick and Jack will often have their football opinions heard over more qualified minds like Douglas.

This isn't the only time the Jets were influenced by Madden, as Johnson was reportedly concerned about signing guard John Simpson away from the Baltimore Ravens due to his low awareness stat in the game. Simpson has become one of the best free agent moves of the Douglas era.

Woody Johnson reportedly nixed NY Jets' Jerry Jeudy trade due to Madden rating

While Woody's sons don't have any official designated position within the organization, it is clear that Johnson will occasionally let them have free reign to speak their minds. Douglas once quipped that he answers to teenagers, a sign of how dysfunctional the Jets have become.

This isn't the first time Woody had a direct influence on one of the Jets' personnel moves. When the Jets traded Zach Wilson to the Broncos, Denver had asked for pick No. 257, the final selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Johnson made Douglas include pick No. 256 so that he could hold on to Mr. Irrelevant. The player picked, safety Jaylen Key, isn't on the Jets anymore.

While the Jets did eventually end up with Davante Adams, which could be a better move for this team in the long run, the fact a sitting general manager was reportedly not allowed to make a move because of a teenager's video game-based opinion is a level of dysfunction even the best screenwriters couldn't make up.

With President-elect Donald Trump not naming Johnson the ambassador to the United Kingdom, which many expected, Johnson is not likely to relinquish control of the Jets in 2025 and beyond. Rather than turning over to brother Christopher, regarded as more even-keeled, Woody will run this team with an iron first again.

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