New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has publicly lambasted quarterback Justin Fields, attributing the team’s dismal 0-7 start directly to his “awful” passer rating and inability to complete passes, sparking intense debate within the fan community about the future of the franchise’s perennial quarterback struggles.
The New York Jets‘ 2025 season has been nothing short of a disaster, plummeting to an 0-7 record and cementing their status as the league’s sole winless team. Amidst this deepening crisis, owner Woody Johnson has broken his silence, delivering a scathing assessment of quarterback Justin Fields, effectively throwing him under the bus just six games into the season. Johnson’s candid remarks at the NFL owners meetings in New York City on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, signal a growing frustration at the highest levels of the franchise and send ripples through the already restless fanbase.
Johnson’s Unfiltered Blame Game: \”An Awful Look\”
According to reports, Johnson didn’t mince words when asked about the team’s struggles, pointing directly to Justin Fields’ performance as a primary cause. “It’s hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that we’ve got,” Johnson stated, as reported by Newsday’s Tom Rock. He continued, “He’s got the ability, but something is not jibing. If you look at any head coach with a quarterback like that, you’re going to see similar results.” This public rebuke from the owner is seen by many fans as “an awful look,” especially given the timing just after Fields’ benching.
Johnson specifically honed in on the passing game, or lack thereof. “If we could just complete a pass, it would look good,” he surmised. “You gotta convince them that you could do something. Otherwise it’s hard to have a game that you could win.” He further linked the aerial struggles to the team’s inability to establish a ground attack, noting, “The offense is just not clicking. You can’t run the ball if you can’t pass the ball.”
The Numbers Behind Fields’ Difficult Start
Before his benching in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers, Justin Fields had played six games for the Jets. His statistics paint a picture of inefficiency, despite a surprisingly low interception count:
- Passing Yards: 845
- Touchdowns: 4
- Interceptions: 0
- Completions/Attempts: 86/135 (63.7%)
- Passer Rating: 91.1
- Rushing Yards: 257
- Rushing Touchdowns: 3
While protecting the football is commendable, advanced metrics highlight areas of concern. Fields’ average depth of target, at 7.4 yards per pass, ranks 32nd among 41 starting quarterbacks, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). More critically, his tendency to hold onto the ball for an average of 3.13 seconds makes him the fourth-longest among starting quarterbacks in 2025, contributing to the Jets allowing a league-high 31 sacks so far this season.
A Team in Turmoil: Beyond the Quarterback
The Jets’ struggles extend far beyond the quarterback position. As a team, their offensive output is anemic, averaging just 20.5 points per game (25th in the NFL), while their defense is allowing 28.3 points per game (28th). The team’s turnover ratio stands at a dismal -7, and they have conceded the most sacks in the league. This confluence of factors paints a bleak picture for a franchise mired in a playoff drought that will almost certainly stretch to 15 seasons.
The Aaron Glenn Factor and Tyrod Taylor’s Opportunity
Despite his harsh words for Justin Fields, Woody Johnson publicly backed first-year head coach Aaron Glenn. Johnson expressed confidence that Glenn is “turning around parts of it,” indicating the owner believes the issues stem primarily from quarterback performance rather than coaching strategy. This defense of Glenn comes after the coach and his staff opted to bench Fields at halftime during the Week 7 loss, turning to veteran Tyrod Taylor. Reports from ESPN’s Rich Cimini suggest Glenn is leaning towards Taylor as the starter moving forward, though an official announcement is pending.
This isn’t Johnson’s first foray into quarterback controversies. An insider report recalled that Johnson had to be “held back” from benching Aaron Rodgers last season, highlighting a pattern of direct intervention in the team’s most critical position. Interestingly, Johnson had previously mandated fixing the quarterback position under former head coach Robert Saleh, which eventually led to the acquisition of Rodgers. However, Glenn, a former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator and ex-Jets cornerback, chose to move on from Rodgers after his two seasons in New York, bringing in Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract after spending the previous season with the Steelers.
Fan Frustration and the Looming Draft
For the loyal Jets fanbase, Johnson’s comments and the ongoing struggles are painfully familiar. Patience has worn thin after 14 seasons of losing, and the constant carousel at quarterback has left many feeling a deep sense of cynicism. The team’s spiraling record points towards another top pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, inevitably fueling discussions and rumors about another potential quarterback change – a cycle fans desperately hope to break.
The situation highlights a fundamental truth in the NFL: without consistent, high-level play at quarterback, sustained success is nearly impossible. While Johnson has defended his head coach, the direct and unequivocal blame placed on Justin Fields signals a significant shift in the team’s approach and raises serious questions about Fields’ long-term future in New York.
