Woody Johnson and his sons, Brick and Jack, are under intense public scrutiny after The Athletic published a story highlighting his inept leadership and his son’s involvement in the team’s decision-making.
Robert Wood Johnson IV is the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune heir and co-owner of the New York Jets.
The great-grandson of Robert Wood Johnson. I was the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021.
Johnson purchased the New York Jets football team for $635 million in 2000. But he now shares ownership of the Jets with his brother, Christopher Johnson.
Woody Johnson Thought Wide Receiver Jerry Jeudy’s Low Madden Rating Was A Problem Due To His Sons!
American businessman and co-owner of the New York Jets, Woody Johnson, has five children.
Initially, he was married to former fashion model Nancy Sale Johnson. The couple had three children together.
However, Woody and Nancy divorced in 2001. Then, Johnson remarried again in 2009 to former actress and equities managing director at Sandler O’Neill & Partners, Suzanne Ircha Johnson.
Woody Johnson has two sons, Brick and Jack Johnson, with his second wife, Suzzane.
While Woody tries to keep a low profile, the recent controversies surrounding the New York Jets‘ poor performances, reckless decision-making, and inside gossip have garnered significant public attention to the family.
According to a December 19, 2024 story from The Athletic, the Jets have had several challenges due to internal turmoil and the over-involvement of family members in organizational decision-making.
The article additionally details Johnson frequently invalidating his football executives and making opinions based on considerations such as player ratings in the Madden video game.
The piece further discusses Johnson’s penchant for demeaning players in the locker room, his teenage sons’ growing engagement in the organization, and the sudden departures of coaches and executives throughout his reign.
Similarly, Woody appeared to take decision-making counsel from his teenage sons, which had reportedly negatively influenced the Jets’ operations.
There are instances where Woody Johnson highlighted information Brick or Jack had read online while discussing issues with the organization’s top decision-makers.
“When we’re discussing things, you’ll hear Woody cite something that Brick or Jack read online that’s being weighed equally against whatever opinion someone else in the department has.”
A Jets executive
Moreover, when the Jets were negotiating prospective trades and free agency signings, Woody Johnson would bring up the players’ “Madden” video game ratings, which some attributed to his sons’ opinions.
According to NFL insiders, Johnson refused to trade for Jerry Jeudy because the wide receiver’s “Madden” rating was too low.
The Broncos eventually traded Jeudy to Cleveland, where he had his first 1,000-yard season and scored 235 yards.
The club’s overall impression signals instability and inept leadership.
While the report did not specify its source or methodology, it did indicate that the information came from “conversations with over 20 people in and around the Jets organization”.
However, the New York Jets have strongly denied the allegation that Woody Johnson’s sons have influenced the club’s decisions.
“It is used as a reference point; it is not determinative. It’s really sad that an adult would use a misleading anecdote about teenagers to make their father look bad. It’s ridiculous, quite honestly, the idea that this was used to influence the opinion of experienced executives.”
“(The sons) have no roles in the organization. It’s completely ridiculous to suggest that any outside info is intended to replace the opinions of (Woody Johnson’s) staff.”
New York Jets Spokesperson
According to The Athletic‘s Zack Rosenblatt, Dianna Russini, and Michael Silver, the Jets owner Johnson and his family have “criticized” players in the locker room.
One incident referenced in the article occurred during the 2022 season, following the Jets’ Week 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Jets were disqualified from postseason contention.
Quarterback Mike White had missed the previous two games due to cracked ribs. Despite his efforts, the QB struggled to defeat Seattle and vented his aggravation in the locker room afterward.
“After the game, with the quarterback in the showers after throwing his helmet to the locker room floor, multiple Jets players said they heard Woody Johnson say, ‘You should throw your helmet, you f–ing suck.’ The statement got back to White.”
However, a spokesperson for the Jets told The Athletic that Johnson later apologized to White for the remark.
Another unpleasant incident was when Brick ruined a happy postgame celebration following Jeff Ulbrich’s first victory as interim coach:
This story has hilarious nugget after hilarious nugget.
— Paul Gallant (@GallantSays) December 19, 2024
A Texans related one: Woody Johnson's son Brick Johnson gave [what he thought was] a speech while giving Garrett Wilson a game ball, then posted it to IG.
"It was the most awkward, cringe-worthy, brutal experience." https://t.co/Zoug5whWXH pic.twitter.com/7nByA21D7W
The players described the incident as “awkward and cringe-worthy.”
Woody Johnson’s Sons Are Popular Among A-Listers!
Robert Wood Johnson V (Brick) was born on March 24, 2006, to Woody Johnson and his then-fiancée, Suzanne Ircha Johnson. His moniker comes from D’Brickashaw Ferguson, a former Jets player.
Likewise, Woody’s young son, Jack Wood Johnson, was born on October 13, 2008.
The older son, Brick, graduated from the prestigious Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts.
He is studying economics at Harvard University and will graduate in 2028. He also speaks Spanish and is bilingual.
According to GoCrimson.com, Brick has joined the Harvard Tennis team and will be on the 2024-25 Men’s Tennis Roster.
Additionally, for the 2021 NFL Draft, he worked in the team’s front office in Florham Park, New Jersey.
On the contrary, there is scarce information about Woody’s younger son, Jack.
Nonetheless, he went viral in 2023 after posing with pop singer Taylor Swift in a photo during Travis Kelce and Jets game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Brick is also quite popular among other A-listers. In June, he was seen with pinup LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne during a Luke Combs performance.
Similarly, Brick is frequently spotted with celebrity attendees at MetLife Stadium, including soccer stars Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann, as well as actress Chloë Grace Moretz.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Woody Johnson’s daughter, Casey Johnson, passed away in early 2010 due to diabetic ketoacidosis.
- He founded the Alliance for Lupus Research after his other daughter, Jaime, was diagnosed with lupus.
- As of 2024, Johnson has an astronomical net worth of $3.4 billion.
