Jets CEO Christopher Johnson's message to a fan at Jaguars game
Jets chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson's speaks during a news conference on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. Credit: Brad Penner
Christopher Johnson hasn’t spoken to the media about his struggling team, but he was very critical of the Jets before Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars.
Johnson, the Jets’ CEO and acting owner, was recorded telling a fan, “Hopefully the team will actually show up this week.” The five-second clip posted on Twitter by @NYSFmag was, the account said, in response to the fan telling Johnson that they had traveled nine hours to see the Jets.
"Full disclosure so you understand the context," @NYSFmag later tweeted. "Nobody baited him in to this...the conversation was 'I just drove 9 hours to get to this game' and this was his response."
The video ends abruptly, so it is unclear if Johnson continued to speak and perhaps offered additional context.
The Jets are off to a 1-6 start under Adam Gase. The coach was hired to help develop Sam Darnold into a franchise quarterback and make the Jets offense explosive and tough to defend. The Jets are at or near the bottom in all offensive categories in the NFL.
Also, the Jets haven’t been competitive in many games this season. They lost last Monday night to the Patriots, 33-0, and then lost to the Jaguars, 22-7. The defense gave up big plays, Darnold threw three interceptions and was sacked eight times against the Jaguars.
The Jets had a big offseason, signing Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley. The linebacker has appeared in just two games because of a groin injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season. The running back hasn’t been effective playing behind an underperforming offensive line. Bell had just 12 touches for 35 yards against the Jaguars.
Darnold missed three games after being diagnosed with mono. Since returning three games ago, Darnold has thrown eight interceptions and committed nine turnovers.
Jets general manager Joe Douglas said he saw the video of Johnson, and he understood what he was feeling. Douglas said he wants to assemble a winning team for Johnson.
"He seemed like a person that was like a lot of people in this building — passionate and frustrated about where we are," Douglas said. "Frankly he deserves better than 1-6 and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that we’re not in the position again in the future. We’re going to do everything in our power to improve where we are right now and make sure we never start that way again."
