From acquiring four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, three-time All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, and All-Pro pass rusher Haason Reddick to parting ways with head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, the New York Jets have made aggressive moves in hopes of turning around the franchise.
That all starts with the team’s owner, Woody Johnson. Here’s everything you need to know about Johnson, including how he made his money and when he purchased the Jets.
Who Is the Owner of the New York Jets?
Robert Wood Johnson IV — better known as “Woody” — was born on April 12, 1947, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The great-grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I, Woody is an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune.
Johnson purchased the Jets in 2000 and has served as their chairman ever since. He played a key role in the development of MetLife Stadium and landing Super Bowl 48.
In the NFLPA’s team report cards, Johnson received a B- grade, which ranked No. 20 overall among all NFL owners. The players rated him an 8.2 out of 10 in terms of his “willingness to invest in the facilities.”
Before purchasing the Jets, Johnson was the chairman and chief executive of The Johnson Company, Inc., a private investment firm. Despite being a Johnson & Johnson heir, he only worked for the company for one summer.
From Nov. 8, 2017, to Jan. 20, 2021, Johnson was the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. In 2018, he relocated the United States Embassy in London.
What Is Woody Johnson’s Net Worth?
Johnson’s net worth is currently estimated at $3.4 billion. Thanks to the success of Johnson & Johnson, Forbes estimates that the Johnson family is worth a whopping $16 billion. The company was founded in 1886 by Woody’s great-grandfather.
MORE: Who Are the Richest NFL Owners?
When Johnson purchased the Jets in 2000, he paid $635 million, which was the third-highest price ever paid for a professional sports franchise at the time. Now, the Jets are valued at approximately $6.8 billion.
The Johnson family currently ranks as the sixth-richest owners in the NFL.
History of MetLife Stadium and the Jets’ Practice Facility
Johnson was instrumental in the development of MetLife Stadium.
The 82,500-seat venue was constructed to replace the old Giants Stadium, which had hosted the Jets and New York Giants from 1976 to 2010. The Jets played their first official home game at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 13, 2010, a 10-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.
MetLife Stadium hosted Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, which saw the Seattle Seahawks dominate the Denver Broncos, 43-8. Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith was named the Super Bowl MVP after recording 10 tackles (including six solo), a fumble recovery, an interception returned for a touchdown, and a pass deflection.
The stadium has also hosted WWE’s WrestleMania 29, the 2021 Army-Navy game, and numerous concerts. In 2026, it will serve as one of the host venues for the FIFA World Cup.
Johnson also splurged on an improved practice facility for the Jets. Johnson moved the team to the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center and, in the process, gave them a 224,000-square-foot building in Florham Park, N.J.
History of the Jets
Although Johnson has been the chairman of the franchise for 23 years, the Jets have been around since 1959. In their inaugural season, they were known as the Titans of New York and played in the AFL. The franchise was then sold in 1963 for $1 million and renamed the Jets.
The name was chosen because the franchise played its games near LaGuardia Airport, and it rhymed with the New York Mets. The Jets would later share Shea Stadium with the Major League Baseball team.
The Jets eventually gained prominence during the era of Weeb Ewbank and legendary quarterback Joe Namath. Namath, still celebrated by Gang Green, led the Jets to their first and only Super Bowl victory in 1969, where they entered as a 17-point underdog against the Baltimore Colts.
Post-“Broadway Joe,” the Jets have witnessed plenty of highs and lows. The highs involve the creation of the “New York Sack Exchange” pass rush in the early 1980s — with Joe Klecko entering the Hall of Fame in 2023 for his play in that famed group. The low moments include the 1-15 season of 1996 and finishing 2-14 in 2020.
Some Jets are fed up with Johnson and recently expressed their displeasure with the state of the organization during the team’s prime-time Week 9 game against the Houston Texans.
The broadcast showed fans who were wearing brown bags and holding up signs criticizing the team. During the third quarter, many fans started chanting, “Sell the team.”
“Sell the team” chants have broken out at MetLife stadium pic.twitter.com/qF6WHqKXS8
— JetNation (@JetNation) November 1, 2024
The Jets have undergone many changes this year, with both Saleh and Douglas getting fired midseason. It remains to be seen if Johnson will consider selling the franchise, but it does sound like he may have to step away from the team in the near future.
Johnson is once again expected to serve as an ambassador under President Trump, which will take him away from the organization. If that happens, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Johnson would handle the team’s coaching search and GM search over the next few months before taking on his new post, and then he would hand over day-to-day operations to his brother, Christopher Johnson, just as he did while serving as Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017-2021.
