The New York Jets went 5-12 last season despite Aaron Rodgers throwing for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns. The organization fired head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas mid-season before parting ways with Rodgers entirely in the offseason.
New York Jets Hit Former VP Elaine Chen With 67-Page Countersuit Over Alleged Conspiracy (Screenshot via X/@nypostsports)
Justin Fields took over under new head coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey in 2025. The front office drama never stopped. Legal battles now threaten to overshadow everything happening on the field.
New York Jets Hit Former VP Elaine Chen With 67-Page Countersuit Over Alleged Conspiracy
Elaine Chen sued the Jets last Thursday claiming wrongful termination and retaliation. The former vice president of finance alleged she and her husband Larry Fitzpatrick, the team’s former vice president of ticket sales, got fired after supporting sexual harassment allegations against team president Hymie Elhai.
Jets’ bombshell counterclaims revealed after ex-employee accused team president Hymie Elhai of sexual harassment https://t.co/Ya3ai9xXYH pic.twitter.com/fVJ4HqXqa9
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) October 7, 2025
The Jets fired back Tuesday with a 67-page countersuitobtained by ESPN. The organization claims Chen knowingly participated in fabricating an anonymous email designed to destroy Elhai’s reputation.
The email accused Elhai of sending inappropriate texts to female employees and other misconduct.
The Jets allege an unidentified former employee created the email and admitted during the team’s investigation that the harassment allegations had zero factual basis.
That former employee confessed to working with Fitzpatrick on the anonymous email scheme.
Elhai joined the Jets organization in 2000 and became team president in 2019. Chen started as a finance director in 2010 before earning a vice president promotion in 2021.
The Jets now claim both Chen and Fitzpatrick orchestrated an elaborate plot against their longtime executive.
The countersuit contains dozens of text messages and screenshots from Fitzpatrick’s team-owned phone collected after his dismissal.
A forensic review showed Fitzpatrick deleted 4,000 texts attempting to obstruct the investigation.
When questioned by Jets investigators with an attorney present, Fitzpatrick allegedly started “furiously tapping” his phone appearing to delete messages. He claimed he was texting his wife about another matter.
A July 10 text exchange allegedly showed the anonymous email’s sender warning Larry Fitzpatrick and Elaine Chen to stay silent about their involvement, saying any disclosure could spark a slander lawsuit. Fitzpatrick replied, “Will do.”
The next day, Fitzpatrick texted Chen about sending her the email. She allegedly replied, “Okay be careful.” After Fitzpatrick asked if she read it, Chen reportedly called it “pretty brilliant.”
Jets Reveal Adult Website Activity and Nude Photos on Larry Fitzpatrick’s Company Phone
The forensic investigation uncovered more than just deleted texts about the alleged conspiracy. Fitzpatrick’s team-issued phone contained text messages to other Jets employees objectifying women and making sexually explicit comments.
The review found Fitzpatrick visited adult-oriented websites on his company device. The suit alleges he interacted with women on similar sites, including sending a photo of his genitals. The Jets also claim he violated NFL gambling policy by participating in Super Bowl squares pools.
Chen’s attorney didn’t immediately return requests for comment on the explosive allegations. The Jets started an arbitration proceeding asserting claims for defamation, tortious interference, civil conspiracy, and breach of contract.
The organization requests that Chen pay damages and cover the team’s legal expenses. Chen maintains she was fired for marital discrimination after her husband confirmed allegations against Elhai during questioning. The Jets counter that both were terminated for misconduct, dishonesty with investigators, and participation in what they call an unlawful conspiracy.
The lawsuit reveals a messy internal investigation that ended with multiple terminations and dueling legal claims. The Jets sit at 3-2 under Fields and Glenn while their off-field legal drama continues playing out in court.