Mike Repole, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Vitaminwater and BodyArmor, has expressed a strong interest in acquiring a minority stake in the New York Jets. The 57-year-old founder, known for revitalizing the St. John's University basketball program, made his intentions clear during a recent appearance on the 'Portfolio Players' podcast with Front Office Sports.
Repole's Bold Offer
'Honestly, I'd love to buy the Jets right now,' Repole stated on the podcast. 'I'm not even a Jets fan, but I'd love to buy that franchise.' He acknowledged the team's struggles, calling it 'one of the worst franchises out there,' but stopped short of labeling it the worst, adding, 'I don't want to say "the worst" because Woody might see this one day. I’d love to help him out. I’d help him out for free, to be honest with you.'
Repole doubled down on his comments on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, writing: 'Give me a call Woody. @nyjets Billionaire Mike Repole has announced his desire to buy a minority stake in the New York Jets Johnson has never shown any interest in selling the Jets or part of the team since taking over The Jets fans have been starved of success and have not made the playoffs since 2011 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!!!!'
Owner Woody Johnson's Stance
Woody Johnson, who purchased the Jets for $635 million in 2000 from the estate of Leon Hess, has never shown any inclination to sell the team or even a minority stake. However, the franchise has struggled under his ownership, posting an 85-160 record and failing to reach the playoffs since 2011. Last season, the Jets finished 3-14 under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn, further cementing their reputation as one of the NFL's most beleaguered teams.
Repole's Track Record
Repole's potential involvement could bring a fresh perspective, given his success with St. John's University's basketball program. He has financed the resurgence of the Red Storm under head coach Rick Pitino, using his wealth to secure lucrative NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals for players. St. John's has won back-to-back Big East titles and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999, demonstrating Repole's ability to turn around a struggling program.
While Johnson has not responded publicly to Repole's offer, the billionaire's proposal has sparked discussion among Jets fans and NFL observers about the potential for new investment to revitalize the team.
