The New York Jets’ 2024 season has already unraveled into disappointment, with the team’s playoff hopes all but extinguished. Team owner Woody Johnson might have seen the warning signs long before the season fully slipped away.
On Tuesday, the Jets announced that Joe Douglas had been dismissed from his role as general manager, just days after a heart-wrenching 28-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11. The defeat marked another low point in an already challenging season, dropping the Jets to a 3-8 record in Aaron Rodgers’ first full year as the starting quarterback.
The firing of Douglas follows the earlier departure of former head coach Robert Saleh, sparking widespread speculation about the future of Aaron Rodgers with the franchise. With two major figures already out, the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers is only intensifying.
According to reports, many media analysts believe that Rodgers won’t be returning to the Jets next season. If Woody Johnson had his way, it appears Rodgers might have been sidelined even sooner.
In a report by The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini, it was revealed that Johnson led a “contentious meeting” on September 30, shortly after the Jets endured a frustrating 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4.
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During the meeting, Johnson allegedly suggested to the coaching staff and front office that Rodgers should be benched in favor of backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Johnson reportedly believed that Rodgers was “holding the team back” at a time when the Jets had a 2-2 record.
The suggestion took the front office by surprise. Both Douglas and other team officials were reportedly “stunned” by Johnson’s demand, and they had to persuade the Jets owner against taking such drastic action.
Douglas argued that benching Rodgers would be seen as a major embarrassment for the veteran quarterback and could damage team morale in the locker room.
Since that fateful meeting, the Jets have gone on a downward spiral, losing six of their last seven games. The team currently sits at 3-8, and the dismal record has cost both Saleh and Douglas their jobs.
The turmoil raises questions about whether benching Rodgers earlier might have yielded better results or if it would have only expedited the chaos that now engulfs the franchise.
With Johnson’s controversial suggestions, the firings of the head coach and general manager, and an uncertain future for Aaron Rodgers, the Jets are facing a pivotal offseason.
As things stand, it looks increasingly likely that Rodgers’ time in New York could be cut short, bringing an end to a season that began with so much promise but has devolved into disappointment and dysfunction.
