Jets owner Woody Johnson breaks down long-term vision for $6,900,000,000 franchise as 14-year playoff drought continues

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is clear about his vision for the franchise. Yes, the team’s 14-year playoff drought loomed large. However, Johnson, who owns the $6.9 billion organization (via Forbes) is optimistic.

“What we’re doing right now can be transformative and will be transformative,” Johnson said during an exclusive interview before the Jets' Week 18 game against the Dolphins.

“I think our process of making the change when we did was the right time and place. We knew exactly what was going to happen with the regime that was in. I felt really comfortable doing that.”

Despite a star-studded roster featuring Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, the team's regular season ended at 5-12. A season that began with Super Bowl aspirations quickly revealed the loopholes with the current need of the hour being sweeping changes.

First, Woody Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh in October. Next, he axed general manager, Joe Douglas a month later. Behind all these layoffs, the Jets owner defended his decision as necessary for long-term success.

Saleh’s dismissal came after a rocky 2-3 start.

“I was very, very sure that I was making the right decision," Johnson said."I didn’t do it to spark or anything like that. I didn’t do it for that reason. I just knew everything that I needed to know about that situation.”

Yet the subsequent weeks, under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, the New York Jet lost seven of their next eight games.

“It’s about leadership," he added. "You need the right kind of people. You need the right kind of leadership. You need coaches who are teachers and accountability and they have to run it like a successful team.”

2024 was a fractured season for Woody Johnson's New York Jets with high expectations

Before the season began, Woody Johnson described the 2024 Jets as "the most talented roster" he had seen since becoming owner in 2000. Aaron Rodgers, a four-time MVP who had an Achilles injury in 2023, was slated to lead the charge. However, the team struggled throughout.

“At the beginning of the season, I said this is from a talent standpoint this is one of the best teams I’ve ever had,” Johnson said. "It takes more than having great players. You’ve got to have a great team. That’s a coach and a general manager and a staff, everybody. If that’s culture then I would say, yes, we need that culture.”

Currently, Aaron Rodgers' future with the team is uncertain. Woody Johnson deferred the decision to the yet-to-be-appointed GM and coach.

“The coach will have to decide what the quarterback situation is," he said. "That’s going to be a very important job for the general manager and the coach — what do we want and when do we get it and what’s our timeline. Where does Aaron Rodgers fit into that?”

Coming to the Jets’ playoff drought, which is now the longest active streak in the NFL, the owner took responsibility and revealed how the team has enlisted The 33rd Team, a consultancy led by former GMs Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman, to guide the search for new leadership.

Johnson said he wants to build a team that can make Jets fans proud.