To say Haason Reddick‘s 2024 season with the Jets was unusual would be an understatement.
After signing a one-year deal worth $14 million with the Buccaneers earlier this week, Reddick had three words to describe last season.
“Very bizarre,” Reddick said about last season. “Weird.”
After holding out six months amidst a contract dispute, Reddick didn’t want to explain why he thought last season was “bizarre.”
“Last year is last year,” Reddick said. “The only thing on my mind is moving and I’m looking forward to the future and I’m looking forward to what I can bring to the team here.”
If last year was bizarre for Reddick, he should look in the mirror. The Jets acquired Reddick in a trade with the Eagles last March and said he was looking forward to a “new beginning.”
However, Reddick, 30, refused to report to the Jets for any of their spring workouts and missed mandatory minicamp. He also didn’t show up for the start of training camp last July and later requested a trade from the Jets after his contract demands were unmet.
Reddick’s own agency, CAA, also dropped him before his new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, negotiated an adjusted contract with the Jets of $9 million after he missed the first seven games of the 2024 season. Because he missed the preseason and seven games, Reddick forfeited $5.5 million of his $14.25 million base salary and was fined around $7 million.
So yes, last year was bizarre, but it was only because Reddick made it that way. When he did return to the field, Reddick hardly resembled the player who registered double-digit sacks for four consecutive seasons.
The Jets acquired Reddick, hoping he would be a missing piece to a team expected to contend for a championship with Aaron Rodgers returning from an Achilles heel injury and Davante Adams acquired in a trade with the Raiders. But they finished 5-12 and Reddick was a non-factor during his 10 games.
Reddick finished with 14 tackles and one sack, his lowest total since 2019. Now, he is looking for a bounce-back year.
“It’s just a fresh start. I know everybody is worried about last year, but last year is last year,” Reddick said. “I’m here now. Different mindset. Different space. Just ready to put the past behind me and continue to move forward, and what better place to do it than here?”
On a one-year prove-it deal, Tampa Bay could get a steal with Reddick. He registered 50.5 sacks in four years with the Cardinals, Panthers, and Eagles (2020-23). Those types of edge rushers don’t grow on trees.
At one time, Reddick was mentioned in the same breath as the Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. Assuming he is locked in and focused, Reddick can be that same defensive game-wrecker at the line of scrimmage that he was with the Eagles. That could help a Buccaneers team that has made the postseason five years in a row contend with the current Super Bowl champion Eagles.
What should also help Reddick is that his former linebackers coach in Arizona, Larry Foote, is now Tampa Bay’s run game coordinator and outside linebackers coach. Reddick believes the Buccaneers’ scheme aligns with his strengths.
“After talking to Footy and Coach [Todd] Bowles, their vision on how they plan to use me here was very intriguing and something that I knew I needed,” Reddick said. “Outside of that, I felt like there were a team that were a few sure pieces away.
“I felt like I could come bring in my knowledge and bring my abilities and bring it with the guys that were already here and blend it with the guys that were already here. You got great pieces, you got Vita [Vea]. Just knowing I can come here and help out, I thought it would be fun.”