With Aaron Rodgers returning from his Achilles injury this year, there was a lot of buzz surrounding the New York Jets’ starting quarterback. But apparently, even before the first month of the season was over, Jets owner Woody Johnson wasn’t very impressed with what he saw on the field from his new quarterback.
According to The Athletic, Johnson wanted Rodgers to be benched following the Jets’ 10-9 loss to the Broncos in Week 4. Rodgers, 40, was sacked five times during the loss and threw for just 225 yards. with zero. touchdowns.
After the game, Johnson reportedly called a hands-on meeting involving several prominent members of the organization, including his brother Christopher Johnson and team president Hymie Elhai. Several members of the coaching staff were present, including then-coach Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and defensive coordinator (and now interim head coach) Jeff Ulbrich. It was during that meeting, according to The Athletic, that Johnson suggested to everyone that the team should bench Rodgers.
Johnson, who bought the team in 2000, thought Tyrod Taylor would give his team a better chance of winning.
The coaching staff apparently thought Johnson’s idea was crazy. Although Rodgers struggled against the Broncos, the Jets were 2-1 entering the game with Rodgers throwing five touchdown passes in the first three games. The Jets also probably would have won the game against Denver if not for a missed Greg Zuerlein field goal in the final minute.
Had the Jets gone ahead with the move to bench four-time MVP Rodgers, it would have been one of the most shocking moves in recent NFL history. The Jets made a trade for Rodgers in April 2023, but his first season with the team was cut short after suffering an Achilles injury in Week 1.
Although Rodgers was not benched, Johnson’s suggestion apparently created some tension in the organization, and just nine days later, Saleh was fired after a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5. After getting rid of Saleh, Johnson threw some shade at his coach by calling the 2024 Jets “one of the most talented teams ever assembled,” which seemed to imply that it was It’s Saleh’s fault that they weren’t playing better (or maybe it was even Rodgers’ fault).
“This is one of the most talented teams the New York Jets have ever put together,” Johnson said after the dismissal. “I wanted to give this team the best chance to win this season. I feel like we had to go in a different direction and that’s why I did it.”
A week after Saleh was fired, the Jets made the decision decision to trade for Davante Adams in an attempt to save his season. The Jets were 2-4 before the trade and have been 1-4 since.
Johnson made the decision to fire Saleh without speaking to general manager Joe Douglas, who had very little power in the organization at the time. And it’s no surprise that six weeks after Saleh was dumped, Douglas He was also fired.
With Saleh and Douglas out of the way, Johnson will get what he wants, and if he wanted to bench Rodgers after just four weeks, you can bet he’s not too excited about the veteran QB returning in 2025. SNY. TV, the Jets would “prefer to move on” from Rodgers after the season.
Last week, Rodgers had said that he I would be open to returning to the team. in 2025, but that obviously won’t happen if the team doesn’t want him (if you’re wondering what the Jets would have to do to get out of Rodgers’ contract, I covered that here).
With Johnson blown up over the past six weeks, it could leave the Jets in an awkward situation heading into the offseason. Jonathan Jones, CBS Sports NFL expert has reported that Jets employees “are preparing for Woody Johnson to take political office in Donald Trump’s administration.”
Johnson served as US ambassador to the United Kingdom during the first Trump administration. During his time on the job, he handed control of the franchise to his brother, Christopher, vice president of the team. If Woody receives a similar position this time, Christopher will likely take over again, but that could create more drama. It was Christopher who originally hired Saleh and Douglas, and Woody undid those hires by firing both men for the final six weeks.
The Jets have been one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the NFL over the last decade and that doesn’t seem to be changing. The team has not been to the playoffs since 2010, which is the NFL’s longest active drought without a playoff appearance.
