Ownership New York Jets

1 ownership

1.1 wismer
1.2 werblin syndicate
1.3 hess
1.4 woody johnson

ownership
wismer

harry wismer, businessman, had been interested in sports of life when granted charter franchise in american football league. three-sport letterman, football, particularly, stuck wismer went on play university of florida , michigan state before knee injury ended playing career. undeterred, wismer began career broadcaster michigan state , became pioneer of industry. later, titans owner, wismer formulated league-wide policy allowed broadcasting rights shared equally among teams.

wismer, had had 25% stake in washington redskins, interested in american football league , given franchise develop in new york. wismer, philosophy knew mattered most, tried make team , league success. efforts began accrue debt titans first 2 seasons mediocre attendance dropping in team s second year. franchise sold $1 million five-man syndicate headed sonny werblin of gotham football club, inc., in february 1963.

werblin syndicate

sonny werblin graduated rutgers university , employed music corporation of america, becoming president of company s television division. vast knowledge of media, werblin determined put spotlight on team. first order of business, after changing team s name , jerseys, sign joe namath unprecedented contract. werblin s gamble later pay off namath, became public star, led jets on victory in super bowl iii, though werblin had sold stake in team.

werblin s partners, townsend b. martin, leon hess, donald c. lillis, , philip h. iselin, had falling out werblin on way team run—though franchise had begun make profit, werblin making policies , decisions himself little or no input partners, dismay. though werblin resisted ultimatum dissolve partnership, werblin agreed bought out in 1968. werblin remained involved in sports community , became first chairman , ceo of new jersey sports , exposition authority helped create meadowlands sports complex, including giants stadium.

hess

leon hess became known hess corporation gas stations; however, played instrumental part in development of jets during tenure co-owner , eventual sole owner. hess had fought improvements while team tenant @ shea stadium stayed away football operations, allowing coaches , general manager make football-related decisions.

becoming team s majority stockholder in 1973, hess bought philip h. iselin s share upon death in 1976 after 2 of hess partners remained, townsend martin , helen dillon, had inherited stake father donald lillis, upon death. hess began buy out remaining partners in 1981 when bought martin s 25% stake $5 million. hess bought dillon s stake 3 years later $5 million, acquiring sole control of team.

hess had passion team , took losses hard. in 1995, following mediocre 6–10 season under pete carroll, despite shying away football operations, hess announced m 80 years old, want results during conference in rich kotite introduced team s new coach. after 2 unsuccessful years kotite, hess heavily involved himself in hiring bill parcells in hopes see team again reach super bowl. did not live see dream realized, dying on may 7, 1999.

johnson @ november 2008 game


woody johnson

with team sale, 2 potential buyers found in cablevision , philanthropist woody johnson grandfather, robert wood johnson ii, expanded johnson & johnson. johnson unknown among other nfl owners @ time of $635 million purchase of franchise. however, johnson had passion sports according former knicks general manager ernie grunfeld , desired own own team. johnson has been considered enabler wants best employees.

much hess, johnson left many of football related decisions management team , tended avoid spotlight. however, upon hiring head coach rex ryan, johnson had increased presence molded jets team. in 2017, johnson appointed president donald trump united states ambassador united kingdom. once post confirmed, brother christopher took on day-to-day operations team, including personnel decisions.