Jets owner Woody Johnson reportedly nixed Jerry Jeudy trade due to low Madden rating
The New York Jets’ rocky 2024 campaign has been shaped by unorthodox decision-making, including owner Woody Johnson reportedly relying on Madden NFL video game ratings to grade players.
According to the AthleticsJohnson vetoed a trade for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy last offseason, citing the player’s low Madden rating. Jeudy was later dealt to the Cleveland Browns, where he thrived with 1,052 receiving yards and ranked fifth in the NFL.
The Jets also signed free-agent guard John Simpson, despite Johnson’s initial opposition based on his low in-game awareness rating. Simpson has performed solidly since then, but the team has struggled to reach a 4-10 record.
The Athletic cited sources within the organization who said Johnson’s teenage sons, Brick and Jack, influenced team decisions. The owner has reportedly referenced their opinions during meetings with executives and coaches, often based on online chatter and video game statistics.
“When we discuss things, you’ll hear Woody quote something Brick or Jack read online that carries as much weight as the staff’s opinions,” said an unnamed Jets executive.
A Jets spokesperson denied the sons’ influence and called their input a “point of reference.” However, insiders described instances where Brick and Jack handed out match balls in the locker room, making players and staff uncomfortable.
The dysfunction has reached a fever pitch this season. After a 1-3 start, Johnson reportedly suggested benching quarterback Aaron Rodgers, though the veteran remained the starter. Midway through the season, head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas were fired.
Rodgers has underperformed and the Jets appear to be on their way to a rebuild. Critics say the team’s reliance on unorthodox input contributed to the struggles.
“It was the most awkward, cringe-inducing situation I’ve been a part of,” one player said of the locker room atmosphere.
The team’s future remains uncertain as it considers moving on from Rodgers and rebuilding its leadership structure.