JC Deep Dive: How should Jets handle ownership?

There is so much uncertainly surrounding the Jets right now.

Will coach Adam Gase be fired? If so, who will be the next coach?

If the Jets land the first pick in the 2021 draft, will they select Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence? If so, what happens to Sam Darnold?

However, there is another uncertain issue that isn’t getting as much attention, but needs to be discussed, and that involves the Jets’ ownership situation.

If Woody Johnson will no longer be Ambassador to Great Britain, will he revert back to his role as owner, CEO, and chairman of the New York Jets, the position he held before getting the ambassadorship? This is what most people expect. The understanding was that Christopher Johnson would fill in until his brother’s overseas assignment was over.

When the Johnson family purchased the Jets in 2000 from the Leon Hess Estate, Woody, Christopher and their mother, the late Betty Wold Johnson, bought the team together. But somebody needed to be the acting owner, the front-man, and Woody was chosen for that position. Christopher and Betty chose to stay in the background.

When Woody took the position in Great Britain, Christopher took over as acting owner.

Recently, Christopher was asked if he would have a role when Woody returned.

“We have discussed my role after he gets back,” Christopher said. “It will remain larger than my pre-ambassadorship role.”

It probably should be a lot larger. In fact, if Woody comes back, it would probably be in the Jets’ best interest for Christopher to keep his current role, with Woody taking on a different role.

The time is right for Christopher to remain as the front-man, and there are a few tangible reasons.

First, there was a CNN report that Woody Johnson made racist and sexist remarks as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom. Woody denied the charges.