The Jets give holdout DE Haason Reddick permission to seek a trade

The New York Jets have given holdout pass rusher Haason Reddick permission to seek a trade, owner Woody Johnson confirmed Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings in Atlanta, a turnaround for the organization.

The Jets had previously stated that they would not honor Reddick’s request for a trade, which he made on August 12th. On Monday, Reddick’s new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, met with general manager Joe Douglas before the Jets took on the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium.

Rosenhaus told ESPN there is a “healthy dialogue” and added that he would prefer to keep Reddick with the Jets. On Tuesday morning, The Athletic reported that Reddick had been given permission to speak to other teams. A source said the Jets let him explore options in hopes of whetting his desire to get back on the field — for them.

Johnson, who publicly urged Reddick to report to the Jets last week, expressed confidence Tuesday that Reddick could still play for the Jets. He said he was counting on Rosenhaus to fill the gap.

“He knows what he’s doing,” Johnson said of Rosenhaus. “If anyone can get Haason out of this and get him playing, I think that would be better for the young player.”

Reddick’s longtime agency, CAA, fired him last week. On Monday, Reddick hired Rosenhaus.

Reddick, 30, was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles on March 29. In the final year of his contract, he is demanding an extension that will pay him at the same level as the top rushers. The Jets did not renegotiate his contract at the time of the trade because they claim he told them he would play under his existing contract.

He has skipped all team events since the spring. He forfeited $4.8 million in game checks as well as another $5 million in NFL-mandated fines. If he does not report by Week 13, he will not receive credit for the season and his contract will expire, meaning his 2025 rights belong to the Jets.

Finding a trade partner won’t be easy since he’s still owed $9.5 million (non-guaranteed) for the rest of the season, and he recently turned down a one-year proposal from the Jets that would give him more than the 14th .25 million, which he had due to a base salary increase, a source said.

On the other hand, there is a demand for edge rushers. Reddick is an extremely productive player who has recorded 50.5 sacks over the past four seasons. The Jets traded a conditional 2026 third-round pick for him because they thought he would be the final member of a championship-caliber defense. On April 1, he held an introductory press conference and said he was “happy” to be a Jet.

That was the last they saw of him.

ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler contributed to this report.