Haason Reddick's Holdout: A Rare Saga in the NFL
Holdouts that extend into the NFL regular season are an uncommon sight, yet Haason Reddick's ongoing situation with the New York Jets is an exceptional case that defies this trend. Traded from the Philadelphia Eagles at the start of April for a conditional 2026 third-round pick, Reddick quickly became a focal point of attention for his stance on contract dissatisfaction.
Reddick came to the Jets having significantly outperformed his three-year, $45 million contract with the Eagles. In his first year with Philadelphia, he achieved a career-high 16 sacks and continued to post double-digit sacks for four consecutive seasons. His performance clearly indicated he was playing well above the terms of his existing contract.
The tension between Reddick and the Jets became public when the team fined him $101,716 for his absence from the mandatory June minicamp. This move signaled the start of a prolonged standoff, as Reddick chose to stay away from the team in demand for a reevaluation of his contract. The Jets, on the other hand, have maintained a firm stance, insisting that Reddick end his holdout before any discussions take place.
The financial repercussions of Reddick's holdout are significant. During training camp, he missed 41 days, resulting in fines of $50,000 per day, totaling $2.05 million. Additionally, he incurred penalties equivalent to one week's base salary for each preseason game missed, which amounted to $2.375 million from three games. The Jets also hold the right to reclaim a portion of his signing bonus, specifically the $2.743 million prorated amount for his 2024 contract year.
As the regular season commenced, Reddick's absence continued to be costly. Each week he misses costs him $791,667 in base salary. Missing a game against the New England Patriots and continuing his holdout has brought his total lost salary to $2.375 million.
Should Reddick choose to sit out the entire season, his contract might be tolled for a full year. This brings to mind the Seattle Seahawks' unsuccessful attempt in 1999 to extend Joey Galloway's contract by a year due to his holdout, providing a historical precedent to consider.
Reddick’s case becomes even more complex with the trade dynamics in play. He made a trade request during training camp, which the Jets dismissed outright. With the trade deadline lining up with Week 9 on November 5, the situation remains tenuous. According to the NFLPA, the deadline for signing unsigned franchise and transition players, draft picks, and restricted free agents is the Tuesday following the 10th week of the season, which this year is November 12.
The NFL has witnessed similar standoffs in the past with varying outcomes. In 2015, Kam Chancellor held out for 54 days due to contract disputes, which resulted in nearly $3.1 million being shifted forward in his contract. Chancellor ended his holdout after the Seahawks lost their second game of the season. Duane Brown's 2017 holdout concluded without a new contract as he was traded to the Seahawks soon after returning. Meanwhile, Melvin Gordon’s 2019 holdout broke after the fourth week, allowing his replacement, Austin Ekeler, to shine.
The most extreme example perhaps is Le'Veon Bell, who boycotted the entire 2018 season rather than play under a franchise tag contract. This action made Bell the first franchise player to sit out a full season since Dan Williams in 1998. More recently, Chris Jones’s 51-day holdout in 2023 led to about $3.25 million in fines and lost wages, with his contract receiving only minor adjustments upon his return. Trent Williams’s 2019 holdout was tied to dissatisfaction with his medical treatment and contract, and he returned without contract alterations.
As Reddick's standoff with the Jets continues, the financial and strategic implications loom large for both sides. Currently, the impasse displays the high stakes involved in the NFL’s complex field of contract negotiations and player rights. Whether Reddick’s actions will lead to a contract adjustment, a trade, or a full seasonal holdout remains to be seen. One thing is clear: this rare extension into the regular season has placed Reddick firmly in the annals of player holdouts in NFL history.