Holdouts in the NFL: The Rare Case of Haason Reddick
In the landscape of the NFL, contract holdouts are an infrequent occurrence, especially once the regular season kicks off. Yet, Haason Reddick's ongoing situation with the New York Jets serves as a notable exception.
Acquired by the Jets in early April in exchange for a conditional 2026 third-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles, Reddick came with significant expectations. His performance with the Eagles had more than justified his three-year, $45 million contract, culminating in a career-best 16 sacks in his inaugural season with them and achieving double-digit sacks for four consecutive seasons.
However, Reddick's impressive on-field stats haven't bridged the gap between him and his new team. The Jets fined him $101,716 for skipping their mandatory June minicamp, choosing instead to hold out in pursuit of a revised contract. His absence from training camp has further escalated tensions, resulting in $50,000 fines for each of the 41 days missed, totaling a hefty $2.05 million.
Beyond training camp, Reddick's absence extended to preseason, causing him to face additional financial penalties. For each preseason game missed, Reddick faced one week’s loss of base salary, amounting to another $2.375 million over three games. Furthermore, the Jets have the option to reclaim a prorated portion of his signing bonus, specifically $2.743 million earmarked for the 2024 contract year.
As the regular season progresses, the financial ramifications for Reddick grow even steeper. Each missed week equates to a loss of $791,667 in base salary. Having already missed the Jets' game against the New England Patriots, Reddick's lost salary now stands at $2.375 million, intensifying the stakes on both sides of the holdout.
The Jets have declined to entertain contract discussions until Reddick ends his holdout. To compound matters, Reddick’s trade request made during training camp was rejected by the team. The standoff continues with a looming deadline — the NFL trade deadline is set for Week 9, extending to November 5.
Looking back at the league’s history sheds light on similar standoffs. Kam Chancellor’s notable 54-day holdout in 2015 with the Seattle Seahawks pushed nearly $3.1 million forward in his contract. Chancellor eventually returned after the Seahawks dropped their first two games of the season. In another instance, Duane Brown’s protracted 2017 holdout concluded without a new contract, leading to his eventual trade to the Seahawks shortly after he rejoined the team. Melvin Gordon's holdout in 2019 similarly ended after Week 4, paving the way for Austin Ekeler to rise in his stead.
One of the most extreme examples was Le'Veon Bell's 2018 holdout, which saw him sitting out an entire season rather than playing under a franchise tag, making him the first franchise player to do so since Dan Williams in 1998. In a similar vein, Chris Jones’ 2023 holdout lasted 51 days, culminating in about $3.25 million in fines and lost wages. His return saw only minor adjustments to his contract without a long-term agreement, mirroring Trent Williams' situation in 2019 where dissatisfaction with his medical treatment compounded the contract issues.
If Reddick decides to sit out the entire season, the Jets could seek to toll his contract for a full year. This potential scenario has a precedent; the Seattle Seahawks lost a grievance in 1999 when they attempted to extend Joey Galloway's contract by a year due to a holdout. Moreover, the NFLPA marks the deadline for signing unrestricted franchise and transition players, draft picks, and restricted free agents as the Tuesday following the 10th week of the season, set for November 12 this year.
The situation surrounding Reddick highlights the complexities of modern NFL contract negotiations. As both parties remain in a standoff with significant financial and strategic implications, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the resolution of this unusual holdout.