NFL owner more interested in winning election than winning games
Woody Johnson owns the New York Jets and is New York chairman of Mitt Romney's campaign.
October 1st, 2012
08:11 PM ET

NFL owner more interested in winning election than winning games

His New York Jets are struggling on the field, but team owner Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson told Bloomberg News today that it's more important to him to see Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan get elected.

Johnson, chairman of Johnson Co. and a great-great-grandson of the founder of Johnson & Johnson, is the New York state chairman of the Romney-Ryan campaign.

His Jets are 2-2 this season, and fans are smarting after Sunday's 34-0 pounding at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. Nevertheless, Johnson has his priorities. When an interviewer on Bloomberg Television's "Market Makers" asked him whether football or politics was more important, Johnson responded:

"Well, I think you always have to put country first. So I think it’s very, very important, not only for us but in particular for our kids and grandkids, that this election come off with Mitt Romney and Ryan as president and vice president.ā€

That might be the best news coach Rex Ryan and beleaguered quarterback Mark Sanchez will hear all week.

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Filed under: Mitt Romney • New York • Politics • Pro football
soundoff (573 Responses)
  1. jimm

    Not sure why anyone would care what Mr. Johnson says about the election. Based on his team's record since he bought them, it looks likehe does not know much about politics or football.

    October 2, 2012 at 8:40 am | Report abuse |
  2. Blah blah the wheel's off your trailer

    BREAKING NEWS! BREAKING NEWS! BREAKING NEWS...

    "Ten Florida counties reported voter registration fraud by GOP backed firms"...

    The Florida Board of Elections reported just a few hours ago that six republican backed firms have been involved in voter fraud throughout ten counties in Florida after they distributed hundreds of false voter registration forms throughtout these counties. Now the Florida Attorney General's office said that these firms may face prosecution and the individuals involved could face a five year prison sentence if convicted. It was also reported that such fraudulent activity could impact over 60,000 Floridians if its not brought to a hault immediately. So which party is the party that's really involved in voter SUPPRESSION and FRAUD? If you guess the teapublican party, you're right.

    October 2, 2012 at 8:41 am | Report abuse |
    • NODAT1

      pls post link of your find

      October 2, 2012 at 8:48 am | Report abuse |
  3. YouCan'tBeSerious

    Uh, Bob, a man of your means and stature shouldn't publicize his wishful thinking. You know as well as anyone else that Romney's wisest course of action would be to deliver his concession speech on Wednesday night and stop this charade of trying to claim the White House.

    October 2, 2012 at 8:44 am | Report abuse |
  4. Robyn123

    Mormons: Bush, Johnson, Ryan and yes Mittens Willard! Lol. There ya go!

    October 2, 2012 at 8:47 am | Report abuse |
    • Don

      Harry Reid also

      October 2, 2012 at 9:13 am | Report abuse |
  5. VVVV

    He supports Romney and CNN puts a piece out emphasizing he isn't doing his job.

    October 2, 2012 at 8:47 am | Report abuse |
  6. J

    This just in: out-of-touch rich guy wants Romney put in office so that he can enjoy more tax breaks while the middle class gets screwed over. I'm shocked.

    October 2, 2012 at 8:49 am | Report abuse |
  7. russ

    can Mitt play quarterback?

    October 2, 2012 at 8:51 am | Report abuse |
    • sqeptiq

      Enough, so what you're saying is that he's not very good at picking leaders, right?

      October 2, 2012 at 8:58 am | Report abuse |
  8. NoTeaForMe

    I've been a Jets fan since I was a kid growing up on Long Island, and it has always been hard to stay with a team that was so good at being bad, but this is more than I can stand. Thanks, Woody, for helping me see the light.

    Go, everyone-but-the-Jets!

    October 2, 2012 at 8:54 am | Report abuse |
    • Saydie

      NoTeaForMe – I pity you. You must need surgery if the light you are seeing is leading you to Obama when the whole darn country has gone DARK. We, the American people are bleeding to death because of his reign of anti-Americanism and you still haven't seen the LIGHT. I'm not from New York and I don't watch sports, but if he's promoting Romney and Ryan, he's done one VERY GOOD THING in his life, he's trying to SAVE the AMERICAN PEOPLE, ALL OF THEM. If you've give up on your home sports team....shame on you. If you've given up on America...shame on you twice!!

      October 2, 2012 at 10:04 am | Report abuse |
  9. sqeptiq

    There are historical footnotes? (I know, probably to subtle).

    October 2, 2012 at 9:00 am | Report abuse |
  10. rufusclyde

    So, the leader of a failing NFL franchise, who cannot win with either Sanchez or Tebow, wants us to trust his opinions on which candidate will be better for the economy?

    October 2, 2012 at 9:01 am | Report abuse |
  11. Tony

    Of course Woody want's to see Romney win.All those impotent pale millionaire's stick together. Yeah Woody we know you want Romney to win, that way you can make up your money lose on that miserable team you got that no one want's to watch(the other New York team stand like Giants over your college team.... pun intended)with that big tax break Romney planning to give you. Maybe Tebow praying and playing may help your team, but it will not help your rich friend.

    October 2, 2012 at 9:05 am | Report abuse |
  12. 934934902300e

    Romney would be about as good at president as Sanchez has been as quarterback.

    October 2, 2012 at 9:13 am | Report abuse |
  13. Paul

    Thank God, I was really sweating the possibility of Willard winning, but this news puts me at ease. The Jets haven't won anything since 60's.

    October 2, 2012 at 9:14 am | Report abuse |
  14. UDidntBuildThat

    I hate the stinking Jets! They suck! Go Giants!

    October 2, 2012 at 9:15 am | Report abuse |
  15. MIllieBea

    Find a way to make your team work, OK- asand then maybe people will listen to what you have to say.

    October 2, 2012 at 9:15 am | Report abuse |
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