With Frank Reich now officially in the fold as the Jets’ new offensive coordinator, the quarterback conversation in New York is heating up - and one familiar name keeps surfacing: Jacoby Brissett.
Brissett and Reich have history. When Andrew Luck abruptly retired just before the 2019 season, it was Reich who handed the keys to Brissett in Indianapolis.
The two worked together for multiple seasons, and Reich has long favored quarterbacks who can operate from the pocket - a mold Brissett fits well. That connection, along with the Jets’ current quarterback uncertainty, makes the veteran signal-caller a logical name to watch as the offseason unfolds.
The Jets’ quarterback room is in flux. Justin Fields, who spent time with the team last year, isn’t expected back and could be headed for release.
Tyrod Taylor, the veteran backup, is a free agent. That leaves a void behind their presumed 2026 starter - and potentially a need for someone who can step in if things go sideways.
Brissett, who turns 34 later this year, is still under contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He signed a two-year deal last March and ended up playing a significant role in 2025.
In 14 games (12 starts), he completed nearly 65% of his passes for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions. He also added 168 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
Solid, steady production - the kind that keeps an offense on schedule and a coaching staff sane.
He even managed to supplant Kyler Murray as the starter last season, a move that turned heads around the league. But with a new coaching staff now in place in Arizona, Brissett’s future there is anything but certain. If the Cardinals decide to go in a different direction, Brissett could become available - either via trade or, depending on how things shake out, possibly even free agency down the line.
Jets beat reporters have thrown out a few other names, but none seem to have quite the same fit. Carson Wentz, another Reich disciple from their Colts days, is a free agent, but most around the league believe that bridge was burned in Indy.
Kirk Cousins, who could be cut by Atlanta this offseason, is another name to watch. While he and Reich haven’t worked together directly, they’ve reportedly built a relationship over the years thanks to their shared Christian faith.
Still, Cousins would likely come with a higher price tag - and perhaps loftier expectations.
Brissett, on the other hand, offers familiarity, stability, and the kind of veteran presence that could be invaluable in a quarterback room that’s still searching for long-term answers. He’s no stranger to bouncing around the league either.
Drafted by the Patriots in the third round back in 2016, he was traded to the Colts in 2017 in exchange for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett. After a two-year, $30 million extension with Indy, Brissett spent time with the Dolphins, Browns, Commanders, and Patriots before landing in Arizona.
He’s seen just about everything this league can throw at a quarterback - and he’s still standing. For a Jets team that’s trying to stabilize its offense under a new coordinator, that experience could be exactly what they need.