Jets owner Woody Johnson rips QB Justin Fields for poor play, backs coach Aaron Glenn

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Oct 21, 2025

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — Jets coach Aaron Glenn is mulling a quarterback change.

If it were up to owner Woody Johnson, the Justin Fields era likely would be over.

On Tuesday, during the NFL fall meetings in Manhattan, Johnson said the decision is “completely up to” Glenn. However, while backing Glenn, Johnson ripped Fields’ performance, which has led to the team’s 0-7 start.

“It looks like he’s turned around parts of it,” Johnson said about Glenn. “It’s hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that he’s got.

“I mean, he has the ability, but something just is not jiving. But if you look at any coach with a quarterback like that, you’re going to see similar results. You have to play consistently at that position, and that’s what we’re going to try to do for the remainder of the season.”

Johnson said the two areas that give him optimism are the Jets’ special teams and the play of their defense over the past two weeks. But he continued to shred into Fields for his crummy play.

“If we can just complete a pass, it would look good,” he said. “You gotta convince them that you can do something. Otherwise, it’s hard to have a game that you can win.”

In March, the Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract, including $30 million guaranteed. The hope was that Fields could become a long-term solution at quarterback. Instead, he has been a big reason the Jets are the lone winless team in the NFL.

Following a 6-of-12, 46-yard performance against the Panthers on Sunday, Glenn benched Fields at halftime for backup Tyrod Taylor. This was a week after the Jets finished with minus-10 net passing yards with Fields under center in their Week 6 loss to the Broncos in London. Fields only completed 9-of-17 passes for 45 yards against Denver.

Despite the change to Taylor, the Jets continued to struggle to score points and lost to Carolina, 13-6. Taylor finished the game 10 for 22 with 126 yards and two interceptions.

On Monday, Glenn said he wants to speak to his coaching staff and ask other coaches who have been in this situation before he names the Jets’ starting quarterback against the Bengals on Sunday. In six starts, Fields has thrown for 845 yards and four touchdowns. But he is 31st in Total QBR, sandwiched between Raiders quarterback Geno Smith and ex-Giants starter Russell Wilson.

Fields played one of the best games of his career during the Jets’ Week 1 loss against the Steelers when he completed 16 of 22 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown. But his play has declined ever since.

The Jets have registered just seven touchdowns in their last six games and none in the previous eight quarters. They also rank 29th in yards (271.3) and 27th in points per game (18.4).

But despite the struggles and the pressure fans have put on Glenn, Johnson continues to back his coach.

“I do believe in Aaron,” Johnson said. “I’ve known Aaron since 1996 [when] I was a fan, I’ve always been a fan of him.

“I see the way he handles a room. If I were a player, I would respond to him because he’s the real deal. No BS, no second agendas. What you’re hearing is the truth. And a lot of time players don’t get the truth; they get a lot of gobbledygook.”