MEET THE NEW BOSS
WOODY’S BRO MAKES IT CLEAR HE’S IN CHARGE
Meet the new boss, much different than the old boss.
New Jets CEO and chairman Christopher Johnson met with reporters Wednesday for the first time since taking over control of the team from his brother Woody, who is now the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Johnson, who looks like his brother, speaks very differently than him. He was open and direct with reporters, and made it clear he is calling the shots.
“Over the years, he always bounced things off of me,” Christopher said. “It would be great if I could do that with him, but he really has a full-time job over there. We are not discussing football. He’s out of it.”
That includes the decision whether to retain or fire head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan at the end of the season.
“Woody is not involved in that at all,” Johnson said.
Johnson, 58, is 12 years younger than Woody. He is not new to the Jets. He has been a minority owner since his brother bought the team in 2000, and said he has been in the room for every major decision. Now, though, the decisions are his.
Johnson emphasized that Bowles and Maccagnan won’t be judged off of wins and losses this year. Instead, he is looking for signs of progress.
“Like any fan, I like wins a lot more than losses. But that’s only part of the equation,” Johnson said. “The real way to judge this team and the people on it, me included, is are we getting better?”
The Jets are off to an 0-2 start, so there is nowhere to go but up. Johnson is well aware the public perception is that this team is trying to “tank” for a shot at a top draft pick and one of the stud college quarterbacks. He was emphatic that is not true.
“We are definitely not tanking,” Johnson said. “It couldn’t be further from the truth. I want to win every game. Every player in that locker room wants to win. What you’re seeing, I think, are growing pains. … I think you’re going to see this team get better and better and better.”
The Jets appear to be a long way from contending for a Super Bowl. Will Johnson be patient with Maccagnan and Bowles as the Jets rebuild?
“I’m not a patient man,” Johnson said. “I’m like any fan. I’ve been a fan of this team all my life. Yeah, you can look long-term, but I want to see this team progressing every game. I’m not happy with losses. I’m not happy with mistakes. But I’m excited about the progression.”
Johnson had nice things to say about both Maccagnan and Bowles.
“I think he’s proven over the years before he got here that he’s an extraordinary talent evaluator,” Johnson said of Maccagnan. “I’ve seen nothing to dissuade me from that here. I think he’s very thoughtful, very methodical. I’m really impressed with his drafts and his outlook.”
He also praised Bowles.
“I’ve been around a lot of coaches at this point,” he said. “He has a connection with the players ... maybe it doesn’t show up with you guys, but I’m in the locker room, I’m at the practices, I see him working with these young men. I think he strikes the right balance. I’m really impressed with him.”
Johnson made it clear he is not getting involved in personnel evaluations when asked about a few specific things.
“I’m not yet Jerry Jones,” Johnson said.
When Woody Johnson agreed to become the ambassador after being asked by President Trump over the winter, Woody selected Christopher to run the team while he was in England.
“It’s your team, don’t mess it up,” Woody told him, according to Christopher.
Now, Christopher is trying to do what Woody could not over 17 seasons.
“What I really want to see happen is for us to go to the Super Bowl, where I’ve promised my brother I’ll leave him two tickets at will call,” Christopher said. “Every little brother wants to show up his big brother.”