Haason Reddick is finishing his long holdout with the New York Jets and will join the team on Monday.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus told The Associated Press on Sunday that Reddick has agreed to a new contract for this season, and both sides will continue to work on a longer deal for the future.
This agreement came less than a week after the Jets allowed Reddick to look for a trade. He hasn’t played this season due to a contract disagreement with the Jets, who traded for him from Philadelphia in late March to strengthen their pass rush.
ESPN was the first to report that Reddick was ending his holdout. NFL Network shared that the Jets will cover $12 million in fines that Reddick had built up as a penalty for not reporting to the team.
Rosenhaus, who now represents Reddick along with Ryan Matha after Reddick switched agents recently, mentioned last week that Reddick “would like to be a New York Jet for years to come.”
This statement came just a day before Jets owner Woody Johnson said at the NFL’s fall meetings in Atlanta that the team would allow Reddick to explore a trade.
It seems Reddick is staying with the Jets, at least for the rest of this season.
The star edge rusher, who was the last remaining holdout in the NFL, has not been with the Jets since his trade was finalized, and he passed his physical on April 1.
The 30-year-old Reddick was put on the reserve/did not report list on July 25, the second day of the team’s training camp practice. He asked to be traded on August 12, but general manager Joe Douglas quickly denied that request, stating that New York would not fulfill his wish.
The Jets are facing the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday night after a chaotic two weeks. New York surprisingly fired coach Robert Saleh on October 8 and named defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as the interim coach. Ulbrich decided to replace offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as the play caller with passing game coordinator Todd Downing.
In a long-expected move, the Jets finalized a trade last Tuesday to bring in wide receiver Davante Adams from Las Vegas, reuniting him with his former Green Bay teammate Aaron Rodgers. Adams, who missed the Raiders’ last three games, was expected to play against the Steelers.
Now, New York will finally have Reddick on the defense.
He was set to earn $14.25 million in non-guaranteed salary during the last year of his contract but wanted a long-term deal from Philadelphia. When the Eagles refused to give him a new contract, Reddick requested a trade and ended up in New York.
During a conference call discussing Saleh’s firing, Johnson made a direct request to Reddick to join the team.
“Haason, get in your car, drive down (Interstate) 95 and come to the New York Jets,” Johnson said of the player from Camden, New Jersey. “We can meet you and give you an escort right into the building and you’ll fit right in. And you’re going to love it here and you’re going to feel welcome and you’re going to accomplish great things with us.”
The two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher has a total of 58 career sacks over seven seasons in the NFL.
