A 26-page arbitration ruling revealed that New York Jets owner Woody Johnson received the NFL Players Association’s lowest grade among NFL team owners, an F (5.58 out of 10). The decision underscores why Johnson was singled out: the NFLPA cited concerns over facility investments, leadership issues, and prior management decisions that allegedly worsened conditions after earlier team report cards, including cuts to the food budget and the firing of a longtime dietitian.
The ruling, reported by NBC Sports, explains that the NFLPA’s grading reflected Johnson’s perceived unwillingness to fund facility improvements and perceived top-down leadership problems. The document notes that the union argued management did not respond constructively to feedback from prior report cards, leading to ongoing dissatisfaction with Jets operations.
The arbitration decision also clarifies that the NFLPA’s team owner grades will remain private, even as the ruling identifies why Johnson received the sole F grade. The Jets’ challenges, the ruling suggests, are tied to a pattern of decisions cited by the players as hindering the franchise’s progress over the past decade.
The Jets have not reached the playoffs since their 2010 AFC Championship appearance, and the 2025-26 season marked a tenth consecutive season with a negative record. Analysts and fans have linked the team’s on-field struggles to what the NFLPA described as suboptimal ownership decisions affecting facilities and overall program support.
In response to the ruling and the NFLPA’s decision, several prominent players, including J.J. Watt, voiced criticism of the process. Watt argued on social media that the league allows widespread player rankings on television yet disputes the NFLPA’s private critiques of owners, calling the situation hypocritical.
The NFL and its owners are proceeding with the ruling, while the NFLPA’s private team report cards remain a point of contention between the league and the players’ union. The case highlights a key tension in how ownership decisions are evaluated and publicly discussed within the sport.
