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Another week, same story for the New York Jets. “Gang Green” fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 37-15 on Sunday Night Football, inspiring more Woody Johnson jabs from Bill Belichick.
Belichick sounded off about the Jets' owner on Monday, via The Pat McAfee Show.
Bill Belichick: “The Jets are the Jets and Woody is Woody.” pic.twitter.com/rpS9bLLAkA
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) October 21, 2024
“I just don't understand the head coaching move, that's all,” Belichick said. “But the Jets are the Jets, and you know, Woody is Woody, so…Woody's Woody.”
Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh after New York's 23-17 loss in London to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5. The 77-year-old promoted defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to the interim head coach role, but that hasn't helped. The Jets lost 23-20 to the Buffalo Bills at home on Monday Night Football before losing again in Pittsburgh, bringing their record to 2-5.
“I thought Coach Saleh did a good job with that team, rebuilding the culture and all that,” Belichick continued. “Last two weeks, I don't know, I don't know if they'd be…they were a lot better on defense when he was there.”
Belichick has a point, as New York's 37 points allowed against the Steelers was the most it coughed up all year. However, the offense deserves blame too, as its two turnovers led to 14 points by Pittsburgh and shifted the game's momentum.
Will the Jets ever figure it out?
Woody Johnson prevents Jets from success
Belichick is only one man, but the opinion of a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach holds more weight than most in the football world. During the alternate “Monday Night Football” broadcast in Week 6 with Peyton and Eli Manning, Belichick mentioned Johnson right away when discussing the Jets' failures over the years, via ESPN.
“That’s kind of what it’s been there at the Jets, you know?” New York's former defensive coordinator said. “They’ve barely won over 30 percent (of their games) in the last 10 years. The owner being the owner, just ready, fire, aim.”
Belichick saw the Jets' dysfunction up close, as he was their assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 1997-99. He was then promoted to head coach after Bill Parcells stepped down in 2000, but he famously showed his resignation note on a napkin at his introductory press conference. Belichick explained his reasoning in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “The Two Bills,” via ESPN Films.
“Essentially, the problem I had with the whole arrangement was when all this transpired, there was no owner,” Belichick said. “Mr. (Leon) Hess passed away after the (’98) season. There were two potential owners — (Woody) Johnson and (James) Dolan. I hadn’t spoken with either one, but I had issues with both. … The whole ownership configuration was a major factor in my decision.”
This may have been the best decision of Belichick's career, as both Johnson and Dolan are regarded as two of the worst owners in sports. Dolan, who owns the New York Knicks, has overseen a mostly losing organization during his tenure, although the Orange and Blue are now finally a title contender again after over two decades. Johnson, who purchased the Jets after Belichick left, is even worse, as his team has the longest playoff drought in North America.
Outside of a brief acting ownership spell by his brother Christopher Johnson when he served as former President Donald Trump's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Woody has been the one constant throughout a 25-year run dominated by failure. At this point, it may be best for both him and the fanbase if he sells the team.
