Woody Johnson decided to do his own research. The New York Jets’ owner was at his wit’s end, trying to make sense of the chaos that had engulfed his team. It was the 2022 NFL season, and the Jets were careening out of control, with a 3-14 record and a locker room in disarray.

Johnson, a billionaire businessman and heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, had always been a hands-on owner. But this season, he took it to a new level. He began to dig deep into the team’s problems, pouring over data and analytics, talking to players and coaches, and even consulting with outside experts.

One of the things that caught his attention was the team’s “Madden” ratings. The popular video game franchise assigns numerical ratings to each player based on their skills and abilities. Johnson was shocked to see that many of his players had low ratings, which he believed was a reflection of the team’s poor performance on the field.

But the problems ran deeper than just video game ratings. The Jets’ locker room was a toxic environment, with players and coaches at odds with each other. There were reports of infighting, finger-pointing, and a general sense of dysfunction.

“It was the most dysfunctional place imaginable,” said one former Jets player, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “There was no leadership, no direction. It was like a bunch of kids running around, trying to figure things out on their own.”

Johnson’s research led him to conclude that the team needed a complete overhaul. He fired head coach Adam Gase and replaced him with Robert Saleh, a highly respected defensive coordinator from the San Francisco 49ers. He also brought in a new general manager, Joe Douglas, to oversee the team’s personnel department.

But the damage had already been done. The Jets’ lost season had a lasting impact on the team’s morale and reputation. It would take time, effort, and a lot of changes to turn things around.