Holdouts in the NFL are a rare occurrence, especially ones that stretch into the regular season. Yet, the situation involving Haason Reddick and the New York Jets marks a significant exception in recent league history.
At the heart of this ongoing saga is Reddick, who was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Jets at the beginning of April for a conditional 2026 third-round pick. During his time with the Eagles, Reddick had significantly outperformed his three-year, $45 million contract, amassing a career-high 16 sacks in his first year with Philadelphia and maintaining a streak of double-digit sacks for four consecutive seasons.
Despite these impressive statistics, Reddick's time with the Jets has been marred by contract disputes. The Jets fined him $101,716 for missing the mandatory June minicamp, and he has continued to stay away from the team, insisting that his contract be addressed. The Jets, meanwhile, have maintained that any discussions would only occur once Reddick ends his holdout.
The financial implications of this standoff have been substantial. Reddick incurred $50,000 fines for each of the 41 days he missed during training camp, totaling $2.05 million. Additionally, he faced penalties equivalent to one week's base salary for each preseason game missed, which amounted to $2.375 million across three games. The potential for further financial consequences looms large, with the Jets having the option to reclaim part of his signing bonus, specifically the $2.743 million prorated amount for his 2024 contract year. Each week that Reddick misses during the regular season costs him $791,667 in base salary, and after missing the game against the New England Patriots, his total lost salary stands at $2.375 million.
The prolonged nature of this holdout raises questions about what might happen if it continues. Reddick's contract could be tolled for a full year should he sit out the entire season, a circumstance that conjures memories of past NFL disputes. In 1999, the Seattle Seahawks lost a grievance when they attempted to extend Joey Galloway's contract by a year due to his holdout.
Adding another layer of complexity, the Jets dismissed Reddick's trade request made during training camp. The NFL's trade deadline coincides with Week 9, falling on November 5 this year. Meanwhile, the NFLPA points out that the deadline for signing various players, including unsigned franchise and transition players, draft picks, and restricted free agents, is the Tuesday following Week 10, or November 12 for this season.
Reddick's situation is not entirely without precedent. In 2015, Kam Chancellor held out for 54 days over contract disputes, resulting in nearly $3.1 million being moved forward in his deal. Chancellor ended his holdout after the Seattle Seahawks lost their second game of the season. In other cases, such as Duane Brown's 2017 holdout, the player returned without a new contract and was traded shortly after. Melvin Gordon's 2019 holdout concluded after the fourth week of the season, during which time Austin Ekeler emerged as a formidable force in his absence. Le'Veon Bell notably boycotted the entire 2018 season instead of playing under a franchise tag, becoming the first player to sit out a full season since Dan Williams in 1998.
More recently, in 2023, Chris Jones experienced a 51-day holdout, accumulating roughly $3.25 million in fines and lost wages. Although Jones did receive some contractual adjustments upon his return, no long-term deal was secured. Similarly, Trent Williams' 2019 holdout was driven by dissatisfaction over medical treatment and contract issues, with his return marked by no changes to his contract.
The Reddick holdout underscores the often tumultuous interactions between NFL players and team management regarding contracts and terms of employment. As the standoff continues, the Jets and Reddick find themselves in a high-stakes game, with significant financial and career implications hanging in the balance. Only time will tell how this dispute will resolve, but the league and its players are undoubtedly watching closely, aware of its potential to set new precedents.