Woody Johnson Acknowledges the Need for Change

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, often criticized for his role in the team’s disappointing 5-12 season last year, is determined to turn things around in 2025.

“Absolutely, I have to look in the mirror, and I have to be a better owner,” Johnson, 77, said Monday after introducing new head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. “And I’m trying to be better.”

Last season marked an unprecedented level of involvement for Johnson in his 25 years of ownership. For the first time, he fired a head coach midseason, parting ways with Robert Saleh after Week 5. Six weeks later, he dismissed general manager Joe Douglas. The moves, however, failed to produce immediate results, as the Jets stumbled to a 3-9 record under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.

A Commitment to Patience and Leadership

Johnson’s increased involvement reportedly caused tension within the organization. Frustrated by the team’s poor performance despite claiming it was “the best roster he has ever had,” Johnson played a role in personnel decisions, which created friction among the coaching staff and front office, according to sources.

When asked if he plans to take a step back in 2025, Johnson pushed back against reports of dysfunction within the organization. “You don’t believe those reports, do you?” he quipped, dismissing them as “exaggeration and hyperbole.”

Johnson insists his focus will be on letting Glenn and Mougey take charge. “I want Aaron Glenn to coach the team. I want the general manager to manage the assets and the players, and I’ll take the owner’s position,” he said.

The Jets have missed the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons—the longest active drought in North American professional sports. However, Woody Johnson believes hiring Glenn and Mougey is a step in the right direction. “They’re the two leaders of this team,” he said, emphasizing the need for patience as they evolve in their roles.

With a renewed commitment to improvement, Jets fans are hoping Johnson’s self-reflection translates into on-field success in 2025.