Woody Johnson may be working behind the scenes as Mike Tomlin's Jets hype grows

The 2026 regular season hasn't even started for the New York Jets, but there are people looking at 2027 and beyond. While that isn't right for the current roster and coaching staff, it won't stop people from doing so.

There's a portion of the fanbase who don't believe in Aaron Glenn (which is unfair) and hopes the Jets change coaches next season. One of the biggest names that will be on the market is Mike Tomlin, and rumors connecting him to New York have already begun.

FanSided's Jason La Canfora reported that owner Woody Johnson is doing his due diligence on Tomlin, with many league sources believing that New York will make a run at the coach. And money won't be a factor.

New York Jets' Mike Tomlin buzz has Woody Johnson's fingerprints all over it

In that piece, one general manager in the NFL didn't put much faith in Glenn.

"Glenn is a dead man walking, and he knows it. I hear the same thing about Woody wanting Tomlin. It makes complete sense—money won’t be an object.”

While that isn't giving Glenn confidence, the current Jets head coach will have to seemingly blow things out of the water to keep his job. And that goes in line with Johnson's reputation for getting involved with the team behind the scenes.

After the Giants made a big splash when they hired John Harbaugh, it's not a surprise that Johnson also wants to make a big move and get the top coach on the market. And if the 2026 season doesn't go as planned, some fans won't be upset if Tomlin does become a reality.

Across 19 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he logged a 193-114-2 record, which never featured a losing season. That's a dream for any Jets fan, as they desperately want a team that fights and makes the playoffs.

Tomlin may be able to get the Jets to that point, but there is some cause for concern. With Pittsburgh, Tomlin didn't lead them past the first round since 2017. They were knocked out in the first round for five straight postseasons, and they struggled to develop any quarterbacks post-Ben Roethlisberger during that time.

Tomlin is better known for his ability to build a culture, but there would be some question marks on if he could build a good offensive staff and develop a quarterback. In the same piece from La Canfora, he labeled Lamar Jackson as a potential trade option, but that's another can of what-ifs.

If the Jets were able to pull off the duo of Tomlin and Jackson, most fans would be thrilled with that, yet the fact that this report is already emerging shows that Johnson may, in fact, be meddling once again before the 2026 season even kicks off. And that's the same story that has plagued this franchise for the past 15 years.

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