NFL Rumors: Ex-Jets GM Joe Douglas Said 'I Answer to a Teenager' About Woody Johnson

Before being fired in November, former New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas became fed up with the power structure above him.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt, Dianna Russini and Michael Silver reported that Jets team owner Woody Johnson began including his teenage sons Brick and Jack in some meetings at the team facility. The youngsters' involvement led some team employees to believe that they had been influencing their father's behavior, particularly Johnson's propensity for sharing social media posts and articles from various outlets 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," one Jets executive said.

The evolving power dynamics clearly didn't sit well with Douglas, who reportedly quipped to people close to him before the season, "I answer to a teenager."

For what it's worth, a team spokesperson pushed back on the notion that Johnson is allowing his sons to influence his decisions.

"It is used as a reference point; it is not determinative," the spokesperson said of Brick and Jack's observations. "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."

Johnson, who fired head coach Robert Saleh just five games into the 2024 campaign, chose to fire Douglas last month rather than wait for his contract to expire at the end of the year. The Jets have already begun interviewing potential GM candidates.

However, it's hard to imagine the Jets' job opening being very attractive amid Johnson's reported micromanagement of the team.