$230 billion worth Jeff Bezos reportedly is a “strong favorite” to buy the New York Jets
The New York Jets are the third NFL Franchise Jeff Bezos is associated with after Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks.
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Jeff Bezos, Woody Johnson (Images via Getty/NJ.com)
According to the online gambling site Bovada, the third richest human on the planet Jeff Bezos is reportedly interested in buying New York Jets from long-term owner Woody Johnson. The New York Jets are one of the worst-performing teams in the last decade.
Robert Wood ‘Woody’ Johnson IV, the Johnson & Johnson founder’s grandson, bought the New York Jets in 2000 from Leon Hess. At the time of his purchase, many noted that Johnson took a risk by undertaking such a huge football team on his own. Despite leaving the franchise amid his ambassadorship to the UK in 2017, he was fast to take over once his time ended in 2021.
The Jets are currently valued fifth among the 32 teams, with a valuation of 6.9 billion dollars in August 2024. The Los Angeles Rams are the only team among the top five valued NFL franchises that does not have a losing record. In addition to Jeff Bezos, Bovada also projects Elon Musk as a frontrunner to save the franchise. Musk, who recently took on a role in the new Donald Trump administration, has the second best odds as well share some close mutuals with the current owner Woody Johnson.
Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon, isn’t new to bidding for an NFL franchise. In 2023, he famously lost to Josh Harris in the bid to own the Washington Commanders. The Commanders have flourished under Harris this year, second to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.
Apart from the New York Jets and Washington Commanders, people have long associated Jeff Bezos with the Seattle Seahawks. The Amazon mogul has been rumored to be interested in the West Coast team since 2019, owned by ‘Paul Allen Estate’ since the late 1990s.
🚨NEWS: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is the STRONG FAVORITE to buy the New York #Jets and be their next OWNER, per @BovadaOfficial.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 24, 2024
Bezos is worth over 230 billion dollars and has been interested in purchasing an NFL franchise for years. pic.twitter.com/aR39PBq20C
Paul Allen, one of the co-founders of Microsoft, was one of the first tech billionaires to own a sports franchise. He took an interest and bought the Portland Trail Blazers in 1988. Allen, in addition to Trail Blazers and Seahawks was also a minority owner of MLS side Seattle Sounders. After he passed away, Jody Allen owns the stakes under the Paul Allen Estate.
Not only Jeff Bezos, any ownership change could maybe revive the struggling franchise
Under Woody Johnson, New York Jets haven’t enjoyed much success. In the last 24 seasons since 2000, the Jets have only made it to the playoffs six times. The Jets won their only division title in the timeframe in 2002.
They currently hold one of the two longest playoff droughts among all the major American sports leagues. In the active playoff drought period, they came close in 2015 with a winning record of 10-6. They dashed their chances on the final game to divisional rivals Buffalo Bills to finish 7th in the conference standings.
The fortunes haven’t bettered in 2024 either. The Jets are 3-8 to the season with bleak hopes for playoffs as well as a No. 1 draft pick. Despite having a four-time quarterback, the Jets just can’t get out of the misery.
The fans aren’t happy with Woody Johnson after removing head coach and general manager midway through the season. There hasn’t been ever a team who made it to postseason after removing their head coach during the regular season. A ownership change might do some good for the struggling Green Gang. After all, a team Jeff Bezos was associated with last year have rewritten their losing records within a year of new ownership.
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Mohammed Bazim
(364 Articles Published)