Holdouts in the NFL: Haason Reddick's Uncommon Saga with the New York Jets
Holdouts that extend into the NFL regular season are a rarity. Yet, Haason Reddick's situation with the New York Jets stands as an exception, creating significant ripples across the league.
Reddick, traded from the Philadelphia Eagles at the start of April for a conditional 2026 third-round pick, has been the focal point of an ongoing contract dispute. Despite initially signing a three-year, $45 million contract with the Eagles, Reddick has significantly outperformed expectations, tallying a career-high 16 sacks in his first year and recording double-digit sacks for four consecutive seasons.
This impressive performance set the stage for his current holdout. The Jets fined Reddick $101,716 for his absence from the mandatory June minicamp, compounded by additional penalties of $50,000 for each of the 41 days he missed during training camp – amounting to a hefty $2.05 million. Further fines of one week's base salary per missed preseason game added another $2.375 million to his financial woes from three games.
Anointed as a key defensive asset, Reddick has stayed away from the team, demanding his contract be addressed. The Jets, however, have remained adamant, insisting that Reddick ends his holdout before any discussions can proceed. This standoff has cost Reddick dearly, with each missed week in the regular season resulting in a $791,667 cut from his base salary. Having already skipped the game against the New England Patriots, his total lost salary stands at $2.375 million.
The potential financial ramifications do not end there. If Reddick sits out the entire season, his contract might be tolled for a full year, further complicating his professional and financial landscape. Historically, such stalemates are fraught with challenges. The Seattle Seahawks lost a grievance in 1999 attempting to extend Joey Galloway's contract by a year due to his holdout, emphasizing the legal complexities intrinsic to such situations.
Adding to the stakes, the Jets dismissed a trade request from Reddick made during training camp. With the trade deadline aligning with Week 9, specifically extended to November 5, the window for resolving this dispute is narrowing. The NFL Players Association has underscored that the cutoff for signing unsigned franchise and transition players, draft picks, and restricted free agents is the Tuesday following the 10th week of the season, pegged at November 12 for this year.
Reddick's holdout is reminiscent of notable precedents in recent history. In 2015, Kam Chancellor held out for 54 days over contract disputes, resulting in nearly $3.1 million being moved forward in his contract. His holdout ended only after Seattle lost its second game of the season. Duane Brown's 2017 standoff concluded without a new contract but led to a trade to the Seahawks shortly after his return. Melvin Gordon's 2019 holdout broke after the fourth week, providing an opportunity for Austin Ekeler to shine in his absence. Le'Veon Bell took the drastic step of boycotting the entire 2018 season rather than playing under a franchise tag, becoming the first franchise player to sit out a full season since Dan Williams in 1998.
Most recently, Chris Jones experienced a 51-day holdout in 2023, incurring about $3.25 million in fines and lost wages. His contract saw some adjustments upon his return, but no long-term solution was reached. Similarly, Trent Williams' 2019 holdout revolved around dissatisfaction with his medical treatment and contract, yet he did not see any changes to his contract upon return.
The roadmap for Reddick and the Jets is murky. The high stakes of NFL holdouts, combined with the legal and financial intricacies, spotlight the delicate balance between player performance and team management. As the situation unfolds, the resolution will potentially set a precedent for future negotiations and disputes within the league.