Could Donald Trump’s second term in the White House give New York Jets fans another reprieve from struggling owner Woody Johnson?
The 77-year-old billionaire Trump donor and Johnson & Johnson heir served as US Ambassador to the United Kingdom for nearly three years during the Republican’s first term in office. Johnson’s younger brother, Christopher, took over the team during that time as the Jets continued to struggle.
A team spokesman declined to address the owner’s political and professional plans for Trump’s second term, although there remains speculation Johnson could serve the administration in one way or another.
As reported by the New York Post, many within the organization are wondering if the owner will be taking a second sabbatical to work for Trump.
Robert Kraft, Woody Johnson and Brick Johnson talk before a Patriots-Jets game
The 77-year-old billionaire Trump donor and Johnson & Johnson heir served as US Ambassador to the United Kingdom for nearly three years during the Republican’s first term
Johnson bought the team in 2000 and initially enjoyed some success with head coaches Herm Edwards, Eric Mangini and Rex Ryan, who led the Jets to seven playoff berths over his first decade at the helm.
But New York has now gone 13 seasons without a postseason return, and at 3-6, the current Jets appear unlikely to reach the playoffs once again.
Most recently, Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh after consecutive losses last month. That decision prompted criticism from Bill Belichick, who famously defected from the Jets to the New England Patriots after a single day in 2000.
‘Yeah, well look, that’s kind of what it’s been there at the Jets,’ Belichick told Eli and Peyton Manning on ESPN last month. ‘They’ve barely won over 30 percent in the last 10 years. The owner being the owner, just ready, fire, aim.’
Similarly, fans haven’t been shy about criticizing Johnson at MetLife Stadium. In fact, a chant of ‘sell the team’ was heard during Thursday’s win over the visiting Houston Texans.
Lindsay Reynolds, Chief of Staff to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and Woody Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to the UK stand on a balcony of Buckingham Palace in 2019
Johnson’s time as US Ambassador to the UK was not without controversy.
He was reportedly asked by Trump to help him bring the British Open to one of his courses, according to a New York Times report. Johnson was ultimately unsuccessful, but received significant criticism nonetheless.
‘It is diplomatic malpractice because once you do that, you put yourself in a compromised position,’ Norman L. Eisen, President Barack Obama’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, told The New York Times in 2021. ‘They can always say, ‘Remember that time when you made that suggestion.’
‘No experienced diplomat would do that.’
Johnson was also criticized over reports that he frequently complimented looks of female staffers and allegedly inquired if one potential hire was Jewish.
Several of the complaints were raised within the Inspector General’s office in the fall of 2020, although the State Department did not comment on the specific accusations.
‘We stand by Ambassador Johnson and look forward to him continuing to ensure our special relationship with the U.K. is strong,’ the Department said in a statement.
