Haason Reddick's Holdout Complicates Jets' Season
Holdouts stretching into the NFL regular season are rare, but Haason Reddick's situation with the New York Jets demonstrates that exceptions can and do occur. When Reddick was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles at the start of April for a conditional 2026 third-round pick, few could have predicted the turbulence ahead.
Reddick, who significantly outperformed his three-year, $45 million contract with the Eagles by achieving a career-high 16 sacks in his first year and recording double-digit sacks for four consecutive seasons, has found himself at the center of a financial standoff with his new team. The dispute began after the Jets fined Reddick $101,716 for his absence from the mandatory June minicamp. Demanding his contract be addressed, Reddick chose to stay away from the team.
This has escalated further with Reddick incurring $50,000 in fines for each of the 41 days he missed during training camp, amounting to a staggering $2.05 million. Additionally, he faced penalties equal to one week's base salary for each preseason game missed, leading to $2.375 million in fines from three games.
The Jets have insisted that Reddick ends his holdout before any discussion can take place. This impasse has huge financial stakes for Reddick. Each week he misses in the regular season costs him $791,667 in base salary. After missing the game against the New England Patriots, his total lost salary already stands at $2.375 million.
Beyond immediate financial implications, the Jets could potentially reclaim part of Reddick's signing bonus—specifically the $2.743 million prorated amount for his 2024 contract year. Furthermore, Reddick's contract may be tolled for a full year if he sits out the entire season. This kind of contractual extension due to holdouts is controversial, as evidenced by the Seattle Seahawks losing a grievance in 1999 when they tried to extend Joey Galloway's contract by a year.
The Jets dismissed a trade request from Reddick made during training camp, prolonging the standoff. The NFL trade deadline, which aligns with Week 9 and is extended to November 5 this year, looms large on the horizon. The NFLPA has emphasized 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.
Reddick’s holdout brings to mind past notable cases. In 2015, Kam Chancellor held out for 54 days over contract disputes, nearly $3.1 million being moved forward in his contract. Chancellor's holdout ended after Seattle lost its second game of the season. Similarly, Duane Brown's 2017 holdout concluded without a new contract, and he was traded to the Seahawks shortly after returning.
Melvin Gordon's 2019 holdout broke after the fourth week, opening the door for Austin Ekeler to thrive in his absence. Meanwhile, Le'Veon Bell went a step further by boycotting the entire 2018 season rather than playing under a franchise tag, making him the first franchise player to sit out a full season since Dan Williams in 1998.
More recently, Chris Jones experienced a 51-day holdout in 2023, resulting in approximately $3.25 million in fines and lost wages. Jones’ contract received some adjustments upon his return, but no long-term deal was made. Trent Williams' 2019 holdout was fueled by dissatisfaction with his medical treatment and contract, yet it did not result in any modifications to his contract upon return.
As the Jets and Reddick navigate this complex and financially fraught terrain, there remains considerable uncertainty about how and when this standoff will end. For now, both sides continue to stand firm, each aware of the significant risks and potential rewards at stake.