The New York Jets still don’t have the kind of quarterback solution that lets anybody breathe easy, and the latest emergency idea is a wild one: Andrew Luck.
NFL.com recently ran through the craziest comeback possibilities the league could see in 2026, and Jeremy Bergman’s entry had Luck leaving retirement to reunite with Frank Reich in New York. The fit is built around the Jets’ current quarterback uncertainty, with Geno Smith projected as the bridge starter for one season before the team turns its attention to the 2027 quarterback class.
That plan could get shaky fast if Smith keeps trending the wrong way. He was awful for the Las Vegas Raiders last year, and the possibility remains that he could decline again in New York. With Aaron Glenn needing a competitive team in 2026 to protect his job, the Jets could be staring at a midseason escape hatch if the position goes sideways.
Bergman laid out the case this way: "Currently the general manager of Stanford football, Luck is just 36 years old, younger than three starting QBs in the NFL in 2026 (Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins). Luck is set up pretty nice now that he's no longer getting walloped by pass rushers, but if he ever wished to live to his generational potential, there's still time. Though his old gig is currently occupied by Danny Dimes, Luck can reunite with former Colts boss Frank Reich in New York as a Geno Smith escape hatch and potential bridge."
Luck has been retired since the 2019 preseason, when he shocked the league by walking away. Since then, there have been rumors and reports about the Colts and other teams trying to bring the four-time Pro Bowler back. Nothing ever came of it, and the odds of a return still look remote.
Still, the idea has a certain appeal. At 36, Luck would instantly be the most talented quarterback the Jets have had since Joe Willie Namath. In his final NFL season, he threw for 4,593 yards, 39 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, while helping his team win 10 games.
For the Jets, that kind of production would be a massive leap from what they’ve had, and it would at least give them a short-term answer at the sport’s most important position. It’s a long shot, sure. But in a quarterback search this messy, even the outrageous ideas get a look.
In Other News...
Darche Just Signaled A Hard Islanders Roster Decision Is Coming
With the NHL buyout window closing on June 30, Mathieu Darche has left the door open for a roster move that could reshape the Islanders summer. The new executive has not made any decisions yet, but he signaled that the club is willing to use a buyout if it helps improve the team, a notable stance for a roster still being sorted out under new leadership.
What makes the next few days worth watching is the balance between short-term relief and longer-term consequences. Darche made clear the Islanders will keep weighing their options before the window shuts, and that means some difficult contract math is still on the table as the front office decides whether standing pat is the safer play or whether taking a hit now could create more flexibility later. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Camp Invitees Just Added A Twist Fans Will Notice
The Islanders development camp always brings a little extra curiosity, but this years invite list carries a family wrinkle fans around Long Island will immediately notice. After the club passed on local prospect James Hagens in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery and later watched him land with Boston, the organization has brought in two players with familiar last names, giving camp a broader look at the hockey families that have already intersected with the franchise.
Michael Hagens is part of the group, and Henry Nelson is too, adding another layer to a camp that is supposed to be about development but often doubles as a window into how the Islanders are thinking about their pipeline. Michael is set to move to Vermont in 2026-27, while Henry is heading into his final NCAA season at Notre Dame, where hell be around his brothers again, leaving the Islanders with another reminder of how tightly connected these prospects can be even when their paths are still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Offseason Reunion Had One Unexpected Twist Fans Will Feel
The Islanders offseason has always tended to spill beyond the rink, with current and former players often sticking close together on Long Island and showing up in the same circles after the schedule ends. A recent social media post from the Palm Tree Music Festival captured that again, with a familiar group of names from the organization enjoying the kind of reunion that says as much about the culture as any stat sheet ever could.
Among the players connected to the gathering was Oliver Wahlstrom, whose path has taken him away from the Islanders for now as he tries to find his footing elsewhere in pro hockey. His name still carries some intrigue for fans who remember him as part of the organizations recent wave, but the larger question is what comes next for a player whose future NHL involvement with New York remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]