Dys-Function Junction Is Your Function

By Mike Rifkin

Was there a team with more hype entering the NFL season than the New York Jets? We got it. They added future Hall of Fame Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, plus Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, who were returning offensively and have one of the best defenses in the NFL. But the team with the longest playoff drought in any sport in North America continues to be a dysfunctional mess even after the season. The Jets finished with a 7-10 record, which didn’t stop owner Woody Johnson from passing the blame. Before Thursday’s NFL Honors show, Woody Johnson called out multiple people within the organization, including General Manager Joe Douglas, Head Coach Robert Salah, and Quarterback Zach Wilson. 

The Jets drafted Wilson second overall in 2021, and after two bad years, the Jets decided to trade for Rodgers. Four plays into the season, Rodgers tore his Achilles and missed the season. Wilson was thrust back into the spotlight and a position where he would never succeed. Wilson wasn’t going to succeed because of the team, and no, I don’t mean the guys on the field. I mean an organization that didn’t believe in him, from ownership to the coaching staff. Woody Johnson said of Wilson, “You need a backup Quarterback, and we didn’t have one last year.” Now, that’s an indictment of quite a few people, including Johnson himself; as owner of the team, does he not have a say in what the GM needs to bring to the roster? Is it Zach Wilson’s fault the team went out to get Rodgers – well, yes and no. Yes, because Wilson, in two years, had struggled mightily for the Jets. No, because I think even if Wilson had been solid enough, the Jets were too fascinated with Rodgers that they would go for him. But the problem the Jets ran into was Wilson needed to be moved the second Rodgers was brought in. But here’s the real thing that bothered me about Wilson: when he got benched for Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle, two guys who are journeymen and not good. 

Wilson gets blamed for this year, but the Jets are a mess from the top down. Joe Douglas and Robert Salah never made any adjustments after Rodgers got hurt, and quite frankly, they set Wilson up to fail. By the way, Woody also announced that Salah and Douglas will return to their roles next season. Woody Johnson said on Salah, “ The discussions I’ve had in the last couple of months, they’ve seen me about as mad as I can be with what was going on with the offense particularly. We have all this talent, and we have to deploy this talent properly. So I think they all got the message.” I am unsure of the offensive talent because Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson are outstanding young players. Still, guys like Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard were brought in because they’re boys with Aaron Rodgers, and both had dreadful seasons. Dalvin Cook, well, that experiment failed big time as well. Saleh is 18-33 as the Jets coach, and in my opinion, he is a glorified Defensive coordinator. But I have seen nothing from him in three seasons that makes me believe he is the guy to right the ship for the Jets. But to me, with a guy like Mike Vrabel out there on the market, I would make that change today, but Woody Johnson is deciding to play this out for one more year. 

The Saleh and Douglas duo’s Jets’ career hinges on one person: Aaron Rodgers. But here’s the thing: when the Jets acquired Rodgers, the goal wasn’t just making the playoffs; it was the AFC Championship game or bust. Now, Rodgers is 40 years old and coming off a torn Achilles, but Rodgers also has more pressure than any other quarterback in the league to win next season. But the Jets sold their soul to bring in Rodgers, and this year, they got hurt.

Was Woody Johnson right in his criticism? Sure, but Woody Johnson is also in a position where he should be blamed; the Jets have been a dysfunctional mess for a long time, but 2023-24 was a cherry on top.