Unprecedented Holdout: Haason Reddick and the New York Jets Standoff
Holdouts during the NFL regular season are a rarity, reflecting the typically cooperative but sometimes contentious dynamics between players and franchises. However, Haason Reddick's ongoing situation with the New York Jets marks a stark exception to the norm. Reddick, a standout linebacker traded from the Philadelphia Eagles at the start of April for a conditional 2026 third-round pick, has made headlines for his significant holdout.
Reddick significantly outperformed his three-year, $45 million contract with the Eagles. In his first year with the team, he achieved a career-high 16 sacks and recorded double-digit sack numbers for four consecutive seasons. Despite this stellar performance, his new contract with the Jets has become a point of contention.
Upon his trade to the Jets, Reddick expressed immediate dissatisfaction with his contract, leading to a notable absence from mandatory team activities. His first financial repercussion came when the Jets fined him $101,716 for missing the mandatory June minicamp. The fines didn’t stop there. Reddick has stayed away from the team, insisting that his contract be renegotiated before he returns to play.
The Jets have taken a firm position, insisting that Reddick end his holdout before any contract discussions take place. The conflict has led to Reddick incurring substantial fines. He received $50,000 fines for each of the 41 days he missed during training camp, amounting to a hefty $2.05 million. Additionally, he forfeited a week’s base salary for each preseason game missed, bringing his total to $2.375 million from three games.
Further complicating the matter, the Jets have the option to reclaim part of Reddick’s signing bonus, specifically the $2.743 million prorated for his 2024 contract year. With each week Reddick misses in the regular season, he loses $791,667 in base salary. After already missing a game against the New England Patriots, his total lost salary has reached $2.375 million.
The standoff has grown so contentious that Reddick's contract could potentially be tolled for a full year if he sits out the entire season. This recall scenario echoes a past case where the Seattle Seahawks lost a grievance in 1999 after trying to extend Joey Galloway’s contract by a year due to his holdout.
Despite the high financial stakes, the Jets have dismissed Reddick's trade request made during training camp. The NFL's trading deadline aligns with Week 9, extending to November 5, providing a narrow window for any potential trades. The NFLPA has also highlighted that the deadline for signing unsigned franchise and transition players, draft picks, and restricted free agents is the Tuesday following the 10th week of the season – specifically, November 12 for this year.
Historical holdouts offer perspectives but no clear resolution. In 2015, Kam Chancellor’s 54-day contract holdout moved nearly $3.1 million forward in his deal with the Seattle Seahawks, ending only after they lost their second game of the season. Conversely, other holdout cases have ended less favorably; Duane Brown in 2017 returned without a new contract and was traded to the Seahawks shortly after, while Melvin Gordon's 2019 holdout broke after the fourth week, effectively paving the way for Austin Ekeler to shine in his absence. Le’Veon Bell famously boycotted the entire 2018 season rather than playing under a franchise tag, and Trent Williams' 2019 holdout over medical and contractual dissatisfaction didn’t result in any changes to his contract upon return.
More recently, in 2023, Chris Jones experienced a 51-day holdout, resulting in around $3.25 million in fines and lost wages. Although his contract saw minor adjustments upon his return, no long-term agreement materialized.
As the holdout between Haason Reddick and the Jets persists, the NFL community watches closely. How this dynamic, loaded with financial and professional stakes, unfolds may set a precedent for future player-team negotiations in the league.