Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Jets had yet another disappointing season defined by the dysfunction that plenty of reports strongly suggested could be traced back to Woody Johnson. The optics suggested he was one of the worst owners in the league—but he is literally the worst based on the grades that were issued on the report card the NFLPA released in the wake of the most recent campaign.
In 2023, the NFLPA surveyed its members to create a “Free Agency Guide” in the form of a report card that ranks every NFL franchise in a number of categories ranging from the quality of their food, facilities, and travel accommodations to the competency of the coaches and owners largely responsible for cultivating the culture of each team.
Last year, the Chiefs were somewhat surprisingly ranked as the second-to-worst team in the league across the board (the Commanders somewhat expectedly came in dead last as the new ownership group was still doing what it could to decontaminate in the wake of the Dan Snyder Era).
Kansas City was also the only team that received an F- in the ownership category (the Cardinals and the Steelers each got a regular “F”), but every member of that trio took a step in the right direction based on the grades on the report card the NFLPA released on Wednesday to give fans and players a better idea of the current state of affairs across the league.
The Chiefs improved to a C- on the ownership front, while Arizona and Pittsburgh respectively ended up with a D- and a D. There was a lone F in that column, and you probably won’t be shocked to learn it came courtesy of Woody Johnson and the New York Jets.
Johnson ended up with a B- in 2024 but saw his grade plummet after shouldering the bulk of the blame for a dismal season where he rubbed plenty of players the wrong way by firing Robert Saleh, reportedly vetoed a trade because a player’s Madden rating was too low, and supposedly let his son Brick serve as a de facto GM with a heavy reliance on social media opinions.
The report card paints a pretty damning picture, as Johnson’s “perceived willingness to invest in the facilities” was rated the worst of any owner. He was also ranked dead last when it came to a question about their ability to “contribute to a positive team culture” and ended up only behind Carolina’s David Tepper as far as being “committed to building a competitive team” is concerned.
Not a great look.