Shortly before the end of the 2024 season, Jets owner Woody Johnson was already setting his sights on 2025.
In an exclusive interview with the Post just before the Jets faced the Dolphins on Sunday, Johnson expressed confidence in himself and the organization's ability to find the right general manager and head coach to rebuild the team.
“What we're doing now can be transformative and will continue to be transformative,” Johnson said. “I think the process when we made the change was the right time and place. We knew exactly what was going to happen with the current administration. It was really comfortable.”
Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh on Oct. 8, when the team was 2-3, but said he doesn't regret the decision. He then fired general manager Joe Douglas on November 19, and the team began searching for a replacement.
The Jets finished the 2024 season with a 5-12 record with Sunday's win over the Dolphins. It was the team's first playoff appearance in 14 years. Johnson said he knows Jets fans are frustrated, but he has a clear vision of what he wants from 2025 onwards.
“I want to build a team that they can be proud of,” Johnson said. “I want to be great on the field. I want to be great off the field. I want them to be absolutely proud to wear 'Jets' front and back wherever they go.” That's what we're trying to do. I'm pretty sure it can be done.
“It's about leadership. It's about commitment to running a football operation. It's a football operation. It's a football team. You need the right kind of people. You need the right kind of leadership. It's a teacher. We need coaches who are responsible and they have to run like a successful team.”
Johnson described the season as “sad and disappointing.” He felt this was the most talented roster the Jets had since taking ownership in 2000. Expectations were high for the 2024 Jets, with Aaron Rodgers returning from an Achilles injury and a core of young stars like Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner and Breece Hall. . However, the team consistently found ways to lose close games and struggled to establish any kind of identity.
The Jets were 2-3 when Johnson fired Saleh, who was 20-36 early in his fourth season. Coach Johnson named defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as interim coach in hopes of turning the season around. Instead, the Jets lost seven of their next eight games and missed the playoffs again.
Mr Johnson was asked if he regretted sacking Mr Saleh.
“No, not at all,” he said. “I was very confident that I was making the right decision. I didn't do it to light a spark. I didn't do it for that reason. I knew everything there was to know about the situation. I did.”
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was supposed to catapult the Jets into a Super Bowl contender, but his two years here have been a disappointment due to injuries and ineffective play. As for a third season, Johnson said that decision is up to the new general manager and coach.
“From a numbers standpoint, he was doing well except for the most important number, which was winning games,” Johnson said. “But it's going to be up to the coach. The coach has to decide what the quarterback situation is. That's going to be a very important job for the general manager and the coach – what we want. When will we get it and what will our schedule be like? Does Aaron Rodgers fall into that?”
The Jets have been heavily criticized and many believe the team needs a culture change. Johnson said that while the Jets have talent, he feels they didn't come together as a team this season.
“I said at the beginning of the season that this is one of the best teams I've ever been a part of from a talent standpoint,” Coach Johnson said. “Obviously, the network and everyone agreed to that, but maybe we never played together. It takes more than just having great players. It takes a great team. It's about the coach, The general manager, the staff, everyone. If that's the culture, I'd say, “Yes, we need that culture.” ”
The Jets hired a “33rd team” led by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and former Vikings GM Rick Spielman to assist in their search. Mr Johnson had already praised their contributions. Johnson said he was “fully involved” in the search and was involved in all interviews, but not all previous searches.
“I've never experienced this much pain in a long time,” Johnson said. “It’s more hands-on in terms of actually participating in the interview process.”
While coaches and general managers have departed during the Jets' 14-year drought, Johnson has been a constant, with the exception of four years as ambassador to Great Britain from 2017 to 2021. Many fans point to Johnson as the problem.
Asked how much responsibility he bears for the struggle, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I feel very responsible.'' “I have been away from the country for some time, but all the responsibility lies with me. That is why, based on my experience, we want to give the fans of the team something to be really proud of and help them see the organization. I think I've put together a process of hoping and expecting that you'll say “yes” again when the time comes. , I'm a Jets fan. They should be proud of it. ”
