“It’s the most dysfunctional place imaginable,” said a 2023 NY Jets player in The Athletic’s bombshell article on the owner, Woody Johnson. The timing of the details makes them much more threatening. The regular season is nearing its end. Many GMs, coaches, and players would be trying to find their new destinations. And the Jets are overall a popular franchise, despite the adverse publicity they had in the 2024 season.

NFL insider Albert Breer appeared on the December 23 episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd show. While talking about the preferred team between the NY Jets and the Chicago Bears, he pointed out that the candidates would be wary of non-football influence in decision-making. But he also gave the one reason and said, “There’s a good base of talent there. You go through the Garrett Wilson’s, Sauce Gardner, Olu Fashanu got hurt, but he’s played really well at left tackle. You got Jermaine Johnson, will be coming back from Achilles. Quinnen Williams, one of the best young defensive linemen in football. Quincy Williams at linebacker. There’s a there’s a good base of talent there that you can build around.” That’s right.

The Jets have good talent in their locker room. Though Woody Johnson’s tactics might have affected them, all they need is a good coach. After losing the 3 of the first 5 games, the owner fired the HC Robert Saleh and promoted Jeff Ulbrich to the position. He clearly wasn’t ready. Under him, they went on to lose 8 out of 10 games.

The other teams are below them in comparison. The Bears could not gather a strong O-line around their number 1 draft pick QB in 2024, Caleb Williams. They have a 4-11 win-loss record after week 16. Even against the Patriots, placed last in the AFC, they suffered a 3-19 loss in the week 10 matchup. On the other hand, the New Orleans Saints suffered the first shutout of 2024 in the week 16 game against the Packers by 34-0.

However, not only talent-wise, but Breer also highlighted the difference in the management. And the Jets search for a new GM in the 2025 offseason. It’s a massive one.

NY Jets looking for a coach-GM combo in 2025

On November 11, after losing 8 of their 11 games, Johnson fired their GM Joe Douglas and promoted senior personnel advisor Phil Savage to the GM position. Pointing it out, Breer added, “The other thing that makes it attractive just versus some of the other jobs that are out there right now. So if you go to Chicago, You’re inherited Kevin Warren and Ryan Poles. If you go to New Orleans, you’re inheriting Mickey Loomis. If you’re a coach who wants to make sure you’re going in with a general manager, you already know and are comfortable with and that you two are going to be tethered together.” Both Bears and Saints fired their head coaches during the season.

So, the Jets seem the only place where they’re looking for a GM-HC combo. So it would serve as an attractive offer for any candidate. On this thing, the NFL insider added, “The Jets right now are the one place where it looks like you’d be able to do that because I do think that the guys in charge are going to prioritize having two guys coming in together that are willing to work together, that maybe have some history working together.” That’s a big statement.

Under Jeff Ulbrich and Phil Savage, the conditions at the Jets haven’t improved. So, they would like to find some new people who could turn around the locker room. But given the condition is going, they might have to find a new quarterback. Although Aaron Rodgers has expressed his willingness to take a pay cut to remain at the franchise, things are uncertain.

Woody Johnson would want someone who could take them to the playoffs since 2010. The Super Bowl remains a distant dream.