Jets owner Woody Johnson axed trade for star wide receiver because of video game rating: report

Aaron Rodgers praised the performance of his teammate Davante Adams in the New York Jets' 32-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is back in the spotlight this week after a bombshell report accused the former ambassador of passing on a trade for Cleveland Browns star receiver Jerry Juedy because of his Madden NFL rating. 

A report from The Athletic published Thursday morning painted a picture of dysfunction for the organization, which missed out on the playoffs for the 14th straight year, the longest active streak in the NFL.

New York Jets fans during the fourth quarter between the New York Jets and the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Mark Smith-Imagn Images)

At the heart of that dysfunction, according to the report, is Johnson. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

An example detailed in the report was the Jets’ decision to kill a trade with the Denver Broncos involving former first round pick Jerry Jeudy. Sources told The Athletic that despite the negotiations of former general manager Joe Douglas and the interest of his counterpart, George Paton, the deal was called off because Johnson was influenced by the player’s rating in Madden NFL.

"Douglas told the Broncos that Johnson didn’t want to make the trade because the owner felt Jeudy’s player rating in ‘Madden NFL,’ the popular video game, wasn’t high enough, according to multiple league sources," the report read. Jeudy was instead traded to the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, #3, runs against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

The video game’s rating also influenced