Jets owner Woody Johnson claims the decision to acquire Tim Tebow was not his. (AP)

Jets owner Woody Johnson, previously reported to be the driving force behind the team’s acquisition of Tim Tebow, claimed this month that the quarterback was “forced” on him, according to one of the candidates for the team’s since-filled general manager vacancy.

An ESPN story reveals that Johnson and team president Neil Glat interviewed former Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist two weeks ago, and during that meeting Johnson said he only “jumped on board” after being convinced of Tebow’s value by his football staff.

“They realized it was divisive and hard on the locker room and they wanted an exit strategy,” Sundquist said.

Johnson fired GM Mike Tannenbaum one day after the regular season ended and hired former Seahawks executive John Idzik last week to replace him. Idzik will be introduced at a press conference Thursday.