For the first time in NFL history, the New York Jets may be at the forefront of a renaissance that could alter the franchise’s course.
Too tall a statement to make? Not quite.
A dominant style of football has marked each era of NFL history.
In the 1970s, historic defenses ruled the day. A decade later, those defenses were overwhelmed by the development of passing offenses led by the likes of Dan Marino, Joe Montana, John Elway, and Jim Kelly.
They, in turn, were beaten out by the great running backs of the 90s and the investment in rushing attacks. The true age of the quarterback marked the 2000s and 2010s, however.
Now, a different way of winning is back in the NFL, and the Jets are uniquely prepared to lead under Aaron Glenn and their new offense.
Owners show the key to the future
Spoiler alert: Gone are the days when you need a quarterback playing as a top-five player in the league to be a Super Bowl contender. So many teams recently have gotten mediocre quarterback play and still won a title.
Just last season, the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl 59 with the 29th-ranked passing offense in the league. They did it because of a workman-like rushing attack, a top defense, and a mistake-free attitude in the clutch.
They took advantage of a league that has gotten smaller and more athletic on defense by using size and power when it matters most.
And boy, did it work for them.
Led by Saquon Barkley’s NFL record for total rushing yards in a single season (including playoffs) and an elite offensive line, Philadelphia changed how teams look at Super Bowl title contenders—especially after their 40-22 Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Better yet, the Eagles appear to be focused on doubling down on what earned them that title.
Speaking on 94.1 WIP Monday morning, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie talked about the team’s changing run-first philosophy and how the team can be at the forefront of a rushing revolution moving forward.
“We are going to try to resurrect the fullback position,” Lurie said.
The Eagles added more power to their team this offseason with the free-agent signing of AJ Dillon to a contract. They also changed the position of former linebacker Ben VanSumeren to fullback to convey their changing philosophy better.
The concept of “zigging” while other teams are “zagging” is something that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made popular during the 2024 offseason, which saw the team sign Barkley in the first place.
Now, the rest of the league needs to catch up. And unlike most organizations, the Jets are in a unique position to capitalize on the changing winds of the NFL.
How the Jets can catch rushing waves
When the Jets signed quarterback Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract this offseason, they knew they were adding one of the best running quarterbacks in the league to their roster.
That wasn’t by accident—not in the current landscape of the NFL.
New York finished 31st in the league last season in rushing yards with just over 1,500 total. The team also ran the ball the fewest number of times in the league.
It may be just a coincidence, but the Jets joined the bottom-five rushing offenses in the sport that all failed to reach the playoffs in 2025. In comparison, eight of the top 10 rushing teams in the league reached the playoffs last year.
The Jets have a good collection of runners.
Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis are second-year players with a nice blend of size, speed, and power that can win in the modern NFL. Breece Hall is just two years removed from being fourth in the entire league in total yards from scrimmage.
His skill set didn’t just disappear; New York’s offensive game plan must be better.
It is expected to be under first-time play-caller Tanner Engstrand. The Jets are also expected to take a more by-committee approach to the entire group going into the new season—even if Hall isn’t all on board with that idea.
“I think, mentally, [Hall] is in a good place, but I would say that we have three running backs on this team that we’re going to utilize as much as possible,” head coach Aaron Glenn said during league meetings in March. “They’re all big men, they can run, they’re violent, they’re physical.
“So I think once we get a chance to get the players in and see exactly how they operate, I think every player is going to be happy with the way that we go about this offense, and I think he’s going to be one of them.”
In the AFC, quarterbacks reign supreme. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow are all signal-callers who can lead their team to victory off their arms alone.
That isn’t the only way to win in the NFL now. As defenses in the AFC build specifically for fast-paced and athletic offenses, the Jets’ push to be a more run-centric offense with Fields manning the controls at quarterback could be the kind of “zagging” that the Eagles have done in the NFC.
It doesn’t mean they need to bring in a fullback like Philadelphia is planning. However, the idea of riding the running waves like the Eagles and other top contending teams are doing is something few teams are currently prepared for.
The Jets, however, are one of them. With an offensive line with its final investment in seventh overall pick Armand Membou, a running quarterback, and a trio of solid running backs, the time is now for a reinvestment in the ground attack for New York.
If they want to get a leg up on the rest of the league, investing heavily in their run game could buy the Jets more wins than people even imagine.
Heck, it might just be enough to end their playoff drought.
