In the 2024 offseason, the Denver Broncos made several high-profile trades with the New York Jets, including acquiring quarterback Zach Wilson for a late-round pick just before the NFL Draft, and adding defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers on Day 3 of the draft. However, another massive trade nearly happened that would have involved wide receiver Jerry Jeudy—until an unbelievable reason stopped it.
According to Dianna Russini, the Broncos and Jets were on the brink of finalizing a deal for Jeudy, but Jets owner Woody Johnson reportedly called it off due to Jeudy’s low rating in the Madden video game.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Johnson’s decision to nix the trade over Jeudy’s Madden rating highlights his erratic involvement in team decisions, which some sources say has contributed to the Jets’ dysfunction. This revelation comes amid the Jets’ decision to part ways with general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh following a disappointing season, especially after the high-profile acquisition of Aaron Rodgers.
The Broncos eventually traded Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns, where he recently surpassed 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. In hindsight, the Jets’ decision to pass on Jeudy now seems like a massive misstep, and it wasn’t due to the general manager’s hesitation, but rather the owner’s influence. Woody Johnson, who has reportedly been scrutinizing Madden ratings to evaluate players, overstepped his bounds in making a football decision.
Jets fans, already frustrated with the team’s lack of success, are left to deal with the consequences of a meddling owner. Recent reports indicate that the Jets are consulting The 33rd Team—an NFL media outlet staffed by former NFL professionals—for their general manager search, further highlighting the owner’s questionable judgment. The idea of Johnson relying on Madden ratings and consulting former NFL personnel with dubious backgrounds for team decisions makes his interference in football matters even more concerning.
Ultimately, NFL teams tend to struggle when owners like Woody Johnson become too involved in football operations, undermining the professionals hired to manage the team. The Jets’ failures this season underscore the perils of an owner who lets personal preferences and video game ratings dictate real-world decisions.
