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The longstanding impasse between the New York Jets and edge rusher Haason Reddick has finally reached its conclusion.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Reddick and the Jets agreed to a restructured contract for the 2024 season. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told Schefter that “we will continue to work towards a long-term extension with the Jets.”
Schefter also reported the Jets are waiving the more than $12 million Reddick accrued in fines during his holdout.
Reddick was initially set to make a base salary of $14.25 million this year in the final season of the three-year, $45 million contract he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022.
The Jets traded a conditional third-round pick to the Eagles to acquire Reddick in a move that was expected to bolster their defense. However, he skipped the entirety of the team’s offseason program, mandatory minicamp and all of training camp as he held out for a new contract.
Reddick then missed New York’s first six games of the season against the San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills.
Schefter reported before the Titans game that the two sides were “unable to bridge their differences, and a deal doesn’t appear anywhere close at this time.” Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson suffered a torn Achilles in that game, making Reddick’s absence even more concerning.
SNY’s Connor Hughes reported in July that the Jets offered Reddick a contract extension that he turned down prior to the trade. He reportedly agreed to participate in the team’s offseason program, as the Jets were willing to negotiate a new deal for him that depended on how he performed at the start of the season. He instead “maintained minimal contact with the organization” and chose not to show up at all, and the Jets refused to negotiate until he reported to training camp.
The contentious situation reached a climax when Reddick requested to be traded from New York on Aug. 12. Jets general manager Joe Douglas released a statement saying the team informed Reddick he would not be traded.
Reddick was dropped by his agents at CAA and hired Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha as his new reps. Rosenhaus said he would attend New York’s Week 6 game against Buffalo and expressed optimism that the situation would get resolved, telling Schefter, “Haason would like to be a New York Jet for years to come, and our goal is to make that happen.”
However, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported the very next day that the Jets granted Reddick and Rosenhaus permission to explore a trade. New York was eventually able to work things out with Reddick’s camp.
Now that the two sides have reached an agreement, Reddick can be a major piece in helping the Jets contend for a playoff spot this year. The 30-year-old is one of the premier pass-rushers in the league with a combined 50.5 sacks over the last four years.
Reddick is joining a talented New York defense that includes defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and star cornerback Sauce Gardner among a slew of other highly touted players. If he continues to perform the way he’s been for the past few years, the Jets defense will wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks as the team tries to end its 13-year playoff drought.
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