Holdouts in the NFL: Haason Reddick Takes a Stand
Holdouts extending into the NFL regular season are increasingly rare in today's era of professional football. However, Haason Reddick’s standoff with the New York Jets this season has become a notable exception, illustrating the ongoing tug-of-war between players and management over contractual disputes.
Reddick, who was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year for a conditional 2026 third-round pick, has been away from the team, insisting that his contract be reassessed. This comes after he significantly outperformed his three-year, $45 million deal with the Eagles, where he notched a career-high 16 sacks in his first season and recorded double-digit sacks for four consecutive years.
In response to Reddick’s absence, the Jets have issued substantial fines. He was penalized $101,716 for missing the mandatory June minicamp and has accrued $50,000 fines for each of the 41 days he missed during training camp, amounting to $2.05 million. Additionally, his absence from three preseason games cost him another $2.375 million, as he forfeited one week’s base salary per game missed.
The financial repercussions extend further. The Jets have the option to reclaim part of Reddick’s signing bonus—specifically, the $2.743 million prorated amount allocated to his 2024 contract year. Each regular-season game missed costs Reddick $791,667 in base salary, pushing his lost earnings to $2.375 million after he sat out the game against the New England Patriots.
The stakes are high, not just financially but also in terms of career trajectory. Should Reddick miss the entire season, his contract may be tolled, effectively extending it by a year. This would parallel the case of Joey Galloway in 1999, when the Seattle Seahawks unsuccessfully attempted to stretch his contract due to a holdout.
Historical precedent illustrates that the resolution of holdouts varies. In 2015, Kam Chancellor held out for 54 days over his contract, resulting in nearly $3.1 million moving forward in his deal. He returned after Seattle lost their second game. Conversely, Duane Brown in 2017 ended his holdout without a new contract before being traded to the Seahawks shortly after.
Another high-profile case is Melvin Gordon’s 2019 holdout, which broke after four weeks, leading to Austin Ekeler emerging in his absence. Le'Veon Bell took a more drastic approach by boycotting the entire 2018 season rather than playing under a franchise tag, marking the first such event since Dan Williams in 1998.
More recently, in 2023, Chris Jones experienced a 51-day holdout, incurring about $3.25 million in fines and lost wages. While his contract saw some adjustments upon his return, a long-term deal was not secured. Trent Williams, in 2019, also held out due to dissatisfaction with his medical treatment and contract, but did not receive any changes upon his return.
The Jets have maintained their stance, insisting that Reddick end his holdout before any contract discussions take place. They have even dismissed trade requests from Reddick during the training camp. As the trade deadline approaches—set for November 5, aligning with Week 9—the outcome of Reddick’s situation remains uncertain. 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, specifically November 12 this year.
With the landscape of NFL holdouts offering mixed outcomes and high stakes, Haason Reddick’s standoff with the New York Jets captures the tension between player performance and contractual obligations.