The New York Jets find themselves back in the headlines-this time not for a blockbuster trade or a coaching hire, but because of a report that’s stirred up some serious noise around the team’s front office dynamics.
It all started when WFAN’s Shaun Morash claimed on-air that Jets owner Woody Johnson had stepped in and overruled head coach Aaron Glenn during the team’s search for a new defensive coordinator. According to Morash, the Jets were closing in on hiring Wink Martindale-yes, the same Martindale who helped guide the Giants’ defense during their 2022 playoff run under Brian Daboll. That move, Morash said, was all but done until Johnson allegedly pulled the plug.
“He flew down to Florida to meet with Woody Johnson to get him to sign on the dotted line on how much he needed to pay Wink Martindale,” Morash said. “Woody Johnson looked Aaron Glenn dead in the eyes and said, ‘I’m paying you $12 million, you’re coaching the defense. We’re not hiring a defensive coordinator when that is your background.’”
That’s a bold claim-one that paints the Jets’ ownership as meddlesome and controlling, especially at a time when the team is trying to reset under new leadership.
But just hours later, Craig Carton-another WFAN host-pushed back hard on that version of events. Speaking on his own show, Carton challenged the accuracy of Morash’s report and defended the organization.
“Because of an erroneous report on this radio station, all of a sudden the New York Jets are in the firing squad again,” Carton said. “There’s some fundamental problems with the story out today that again, are trying to make my Jets look like a more incompetent, more laughable clown show.”
Carton didn’t attack Morash personally. In fact, he acknowledged that Morash likely received some form of information and ran with it. But Carton made it clear that, from what he’s heard, Woody Johnson has not been interfering with Aaron Glenn’s decisions this offseason.
“Woody Johnson has been 100 percent hands off this offseason,” Carton said. “He has not meddled in what Aaron Glenn wants to do with his coaching staff. He has not met face to face with Aaron Glenn and told him, ‘I don’t care who you want to hire-you’re not allowed to hire that guy because I’m paying you too much money already.’”
That’s a strong rebuttal-and one that paints a very different picture of the Jets’ internal process.
What we do know is this: the Jets ultimately hired Brian Duker as their new defensive coordinator. Duker, who previously served as the pass game coordinator for the Miami Dolphins, now steps into a key role on Glenn’s staff.
As for whether Woody Johnson truly stayed out of the hiring process? That part remains murky.
While Carton insists Johnson’s been hands off, it’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time the Jets owner has been accused of stepping on football operations. Two years ago, there were reports that Johnson wanted to bench Aaron Rodgers in favor of Tyrod Taylor during a 2-2 start.
Whether those past reports add context or just more confusion, one thing’s clear: the Jets are once again caught in the crosshairs of perception versus reality. And in a league where stability is everything, that’s a narrative they’d surely love to change.