The Haason Reddick saga takes another turn.
Days after his agency, Creative Artists Agency parted ways with him, Reddick has hired Drew Rosenhaus as his new representative, according to ESPN.
Ryan Matha, who also works for Rosenhaus Sports, will represent the two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher.
“We look forward to working with the Jets to get this resolved as soon as possible,” Rosenhaus said to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “Haason would like to be a New York Jet for years to come and our goal is to make that happen.”
Rosenhaus said he’s planning to attend the Jets game against the Bills, where he would meet with the team’s front office.
The Jets acquired Reddick in a trade with the Eagles in March to help bolster their pass rush after he recorded 50.5 sacks from 2020-23. However, Reddick has been unhappy with his contract situation and has stayed away from the Jets facility since April 1, when he had his introductory press conference.
Reddick is in the final year of a three-year, $45 million contract he signed with the Eagles in 2022. He has zero guaranteed money remaining on his contract.
Before the trade was made, the Jets offered Reddick a contract extension, according to sources, which would have been a raise from the $14.25 million he was scheduled to receive in 2024. But the 30-year-old declined the offer. However, the Jets traded for Reddick anyway after losing sack leader Bryce Huff to the Eagles.
Reddick missed the Jets’ spring OTAs [organized team activities] and was fined over $50,000 for missing mandatory minicamp. He also forfeited a $250,000 workout bonus for not reporting for spring workouts.
The Jets reported for training camp on July 23, but Reddick was a no-show and was fined $50,000 a day. On Aug. 12, Reddick requested the Jets trade him, but general manager Joe Douglas said in a statement that they would not grant his request.
Even after his holdout, the Jets offered Reddick a reworked one-year deal that would’ve made him more than the $14.25 million base salary he was scheduled to receive, according to sources. It would have given Reddick a chance to earn back the money he lost in fines and become a free agent after the 2024 season.
However, Reddick declined to sign the reworked contract.
Because he will miss the Jets’ first six games of the season, Reddick has forfeited $791,666 per game, which has totaled around $4.7 million in missed game checks. This doesn’t include the more than $5 million in non-waivable fines Reddick is on the hook for.
Reddick must report to the Jets facility in Florham Park by Week 13 to receive an accrued season, or his contract will toll, and he and the team would be in the exact situation next year. With a new agency, it appears the Reddick holdout could end soon, which would be great news for the Jets, who have had a tumultuous week.
Last Tuesday, Jets owner Woody Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh after the team began the season 2-3 and registered a 26-40 record in three-plus seasons. Johnson then made defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich the team’s interim coach for the rest of the season.
On Thursday, Ulbrich stripped offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett of his play-calling duties and made passing game coordinator Todd Downing the Jets’ new play-caller.
During his conference call with the media discussing Saleh’s firing, Johnson pleaded with Reddick to end his holdout.
“I don’t think any of us have seen anything like this so, I think you have to be part psychologist and some other gist to try to figure out what is actually going on,” Johnson said. “I hope that the young man can come to the team, we would like to have Haason here, we welcome him with open arms.
“When he gets here he will find a very welcome locker room and he will be able to fit right in, but he has got to get here first, so Haason get in your car, drive down I-95 and come to the New York Jets. We can meet you and give you an escort right in the building and you will fit right in and you are going to love it here and you are going to feel welcome and you are going to accomplish great things with us.”
