Reporting live from Florham Park, NJ—Two years ago, New York Jets running back Breece Hall finished fourth in the league in yards from scrimmage, trailing only Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb, and Christian McCaffrey.
It seemed like the former second-round pick was quickly becoming one of the most complete running backs in the game alongside players like McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley.
Things have changed, though. Hall struggled through most of the 2024 season, finishing with career-lows in most categories.
Entering the final year of his contract, Hall’s role on the team has changed drastically since Aaron Glenn was hired as head coach of the organization. New York confirmed they will be using a by-committee approach going forward.
And it sent a clear message to the former second-round pick.
Breece Hall Addresses Jets Role, Reveals 2024 Injury
Speaking to reporters during minicamp on Wednesday, Hall made it clear that he was not upset with the Jets deciding to move to a by-committee approach this season.
In his mind, Hall did not produce last season, and that gave the Jets reason to take some of the load off him as an every-down player.
That doesn’t mean he’ll be satisfied with his reduced role, though. Hall is pushing to prove to his new coaching staff that he belongs to be the lead back going forward.
“I’m not obligated to anything,” Hall said. “I’m around the new GM [Darren Mougey], new coaches, a lot of new faces. So for me, I got to prove that I am the guy. That’s every day. I feel like my skill set, I’m a three-down back.
“We have a great running back room, and a lot of healthy competition. But my mentality is every day I’m going to prove that I am the best back on this roster, one of the best backs in the league.”
Among the many reasons why Hall struggled last season was due to a knee injury that kept him hobbled for most of the season. While Hall played 16 games for New York, the 24-year-old acknowledged that the injury affected him down the stretch of the year.
“[The knee injury] was pretty serious,” Hall said. “If I could go back, I probably would have taken more time off, but I felt like the team needed me out there.”
Hall did not have surgery to address the issue, and is in peak condition now. A fully healthy Hall is a big weapon for New York’s offense.
Not many running backs would be as open to a competition as Hall is. The fact that he is entering the final year of his rookie contract could cause some players in his position to hold out until they either get the kind of deal they’re looking for or given the lead back role once again.
Neither will be happening, though.
New York believes in what they have in Hall. Just because they are using a by-committee approach, it doesn’t mean they won’t use him a healthy amount going forward.
“He’s got a very good skill set again, same type of comment there,” Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said. “But he’s a worker, like I said the last time we were in here, he’s just a worker. He’s going to go to work, he works on his craft, he’s detailed, and he is an all-around player.
“He’s not, I would say, not pigeon-holed into one type of back.”
New York may push to go with a running back-by-committee approach, but Hall’s goal is to make sure they recognize who their lead back will be.
Time will tell if Hall can get back to that 2023 season, or if the amount of injuries he has already sustained is too much to deal with.
