Three NFL owners who can’t stop getting in their own team’s way

Proudly owning an NFL workforce requires sufficient cash to buy a small nation and sufficient restraint to let certified soccer folks do their jobs.

Some NFL house owners solely meet the primary requirement.

There may be nothing unsuitable with an proprietor being concerned. Issues start when involvement turns into interference, and each soccer choice should move via somebody whose major qualification is possessing an absurd checking account.

These three NFL house owners have repeatedly crossed that line.

Honorable point out: Dan Snyder

Dan Snyder now not owns the Washington Commanders, which retains him out of the highest three. Had he remained, he would have challenged Jerry Jones for first place with out breaking a sweat.

Snyder meddled in personnel choices, chased costly names and oversaw one of many NFL’s most poisonous organizations. Coaches and executives modified frequently, the stadium deteriorated and the franchise turned a humiliation away from the sphere.

He represented almost every little thing an NFL proprietor ought to keep away from turning into. Washington’s enchancment after his departure has made that even clearer.

Generally the very best transfer an proprietor could make is stepping again. In Snyder’s case, it was promoting the workforce.

3. David Tepper, Carolina Panthers

David Tepper purchased the Panthers in 2018 with a status for being aggressive and unwilling to tolerate shedding.

Then Carolina found that “impatient billionaire” will not be essentially the best recipe for constructing a soccer workforce.

The Panthers cycled via head coaches, quarterbacks and organizational plans. Ron Rivera was fired throughout the 2019 season. Matt Rhule lasted lower than three years regardless of receiving a seven-year contract. Frank Reich was dismissed after solely 11 video games.

Carolina lastly returned to the playoffs in 2025, albeit with an 8-9 document, however that doesn’t erase the chaos. The Panthers went via seven head coaches, together with interim appointments, throughout Tepper’s first eight seasons.

The Panthers could lastly be stabilizing. Tepper’s problem is resisting the urge to “assist.”

2. Woody Johnson, New York Jets

The Jets have tried new normal managers, coaches, quarterbacks, uniforms and nearly every little thing else wanting altering possession.

Woody Johnson stays.

Johnson bought the Jets in 2000. The group has since grow to be higher recognized for quarterback disasters and front-office dysfunction than postseason soccer. The Jets haven’t reached the playoffs for the reason that 2010 season.

Studies about Johnson’s involvement in soccer choices have adopted the franchise for years. Reasonably than offering stability, he has helped create an organization the place authority isn’t clear.

Johnson additionally publicly blamed quarterback Justin Fields throughout New York’s 0-7 begin in 2025, saying the offense would look higher if the Jets might “full a move.” Fields was struggling, however an proprietor burying his quarterback publicly achieved little apart from feeding the tabloids.

When everybody besides the proprietor retains altering, it turns into troublesome in charge the most recent individual carrying a clipboard.

1. Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones will not be merely concerned. He’s additionally the Cowboys’ normal supervisor, lead negotiator and first spokesperson.

Jones helped flip Dallas into probably the most invaluable sports activities franchise on the earth. The Cowboys additionally gained three Tremendous Bowls throughout the Nineteen Nineties after he purchased the team.

Then his relationship with Jimmy Johnson deteriorated, the dynasty disappeared and Dallas started a drought that has reached 30 years with out an NFC Championship Recreation look.

Jones has remained normal supervisor via each failed coach, disappointing playoff exit and botched negotiation. He delayed extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, permitting their costs to climb. His standoff with Micah Parsons ended with Dallas buying and selling one of many NFL’s greatest defensive gamers.

Some other normal supervisor with that postseason document would have been fired a number of occasions. Jones can not hearth himself, and the proprietor apparently has full confidence within the GM.

Handy association.