Reddick's Uncommon NFL Holdout: A Deep Dive into the Standoff with the Jets
Holdouts extending into the NFL regular season are a rarity, but Haason Reddick’s situation with the New York Jets has become a striking exception. Reddick, who was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles in April for a conditional 2026 third-round pick, significantly outperformed his three-year, $45 million contract with the Eagles. His impressive performance includes a career-high 16 sacks in his first year with the Eagles and achieving double-digit sacks for four consecutive seasons.
The Contract Dispute
Despite his stellar performance, Reddick has been notably absent from the Jets, demanding that his contract be reevaluated. The team fined him $101,716 for missing the mandatory June minicamp, and Reddick has since stayed away from the team, maintaining his holdout. The Jets, on their part, have insisted that he ends his holdout before any contractual discussions take place.
Reddick's absence has been financially significant. For each of the 41 days he missed during training camp, he incurred $50,000 in fines, totaling $2.05 million. Additionally, he faced penalties equivalent to one week's base salary for each preseason game missed, amounting to $2.375 million from three games. The financial penalties have not stopped there; each week he misses in the regular season costs him $791,667 in base salary. Missing the game against the New England Patriots has so far led to a total lost salary of $2.375 million.
Potential Long-Term Consequences
The financial repercussions for Reddick are considerable. The Jets also have the option to reclaim part of his signing bonus, specifically the $2.743 million prorated amount for his 2024 contract year. If Reddick decides to sit out the entire season, his contract could be tolled for a full year, pushing back its expiration. This scenario harkens back to 1999 when the Seattle Seahawks lost a grievance against Joey Galloway after attempting to extend his contract by a year due to a similar holdout situation.
Comparative Holdouts in NFL History
Reddick’s holdout joins a relatively small list of high-profile NFL contract disputes. In 2015, Kam Chancellor held out for 54 days over contract disputes, ultimately leading to nearly $3.1 million being moved forward in his contract. Chancellor returned after the Seahawks lost their second game of the season. Similarly, Duane Brown's 2017 holdout concluded without a new contract, and he was traded to the Seahawks shortly after his return.
Melvin Gordon's 2019 holdout ended after the fourth week, which allowed teammate Austin Ekeler to shine in his absence. One of the most notable modern examples is Le’Veon Bell, who boycotted the entire 2018 season rather than playing under a franchise tag. Bell became the first franchise player to sit out a full season since Dan Williams in 1998. More recently, Chris Jones experienced a 51-day holdout in 2023, incurring around $3.25 million in fines and lost wages. Although Jones' contract received some adjustments upon his return, no long-term deal was struck.
Another pertinent case is Trent Williams' 2019 holdout, which revolved around dissatisfaction with both medical treatment and contractual terms. Williams did not see any contractual changes upon his return.
What Lies Ahead
The Jets have already dismissed a trade request made by Reddick during training camp. With the NFL trade deadline aligning with Week 9, specifically extending to November 5, the window for a possible trade remains open but is narrowing. The NFLPA has highlighted that 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 falls on November 12 this year.
As Reddick's holdout continues, the situation remains dynamic. Will the player and team find common ground, or will this standoff lead to further repercussions for both parties? Only time will provide the answer, as the clock continues to tick in this high-stakes contract saga.