The booster who helped resuscitate St. John’s basketball wouldn’t mind seeing if his billions and his business acumen could make a difference for another wayward New York franchise.
Mike Repole, who founded Vitaminwater and BodyArmor, said recently he would like to team up with Woody Johnson as a minority owner of the Jets.
“Honestly, I’d love to buy the Jets right now,” Repole said during an appearance on the “Portfolio Players” podcast with Front Office Sports. “I’m not even a Jets fan, but I’d love to buy that franchise. Again, one of the worst franchises out there. I don’t want to say ‘the worst’ because Woody might see this one day.”
Of course, the Jets are not for sale and haven’t been since Johnson bought the franchise in 2000 from the estate of the late Leon Hess.
The Jets enjoyed early success during Johnson’s tenure — including back-to-back AFC Championship game appearances — but are 85-160 with no playoff appearances since 2011.
“I’d love to help him out,” Repole said. “I’d help him out for free, to be honest with you.”
How could Repole help the Jets? It’s unclear.
Repole has been a godsend for St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino because he essentially can pay players’ salaries with his NIL donations.
The Red Storm have won back-to-back Big East titles and just advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.
The NFL has a salary cap, so paying players is pretty much a level field, other than a few tricks.
There are signing bonuses that need to be paid up front, but the Jets do not have a spending issue under Johnson. The trouble has been more about hiring the right people and acquiring the right players.
“Give me a call Woody. @nyjets,” Repole wrote on X. “Let’s make the Jets a winning franchise!!!!! The NY fans will love this.
“I’ll do it for FREE but I’ll buy 1% to 5%!!!! Let’s go Jets!!!!”
