Over the last two years, the New York Jets became accustomed to receiving offseason praise from media talking heads. Projecting the Jets to break their playoff drought was all the rage.
Things are different in 2025. With a new regime and an overhauled roster devoid of name-brand stars, the Jets are moving silently outside of the national spotlight – just as Aaron Glenn promised.
For that reason, it is noteworthy when a media member goes out of their way to laud this iteration of the Jets. It was the cool thing to be pro-Jets over the last two years; now, that is far from the case.
Speaking on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” podcast, former five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Terron Armstead sent immense praise New York’s way, going as far as to say they have the best one-two punch in the NFL at one position.
“Breece Hall, Braelon Allen [are the NFL’s best 1-2 punch at running back],” Armstead said. “I think it’s a response year from Breece Hall. We saw the explosion early in his career, and he was derailed by injury. I think it’s this year he takes off and he shows for him he’s a top 5 running back in the league.
“Braelon Allen in the short-yardage game, goal-line game, he’s a bruiser. 6-1, [235], big powerful back. I really think this 1-2 punch is the top of the league.”
Armstead added that the presence of Justin Fields should help open things up for Hall and Allen.
“I think with Justin Fields over there as well, you get more of that dynamic of that added element. You have to worry about the quarterback, so a lot of RPOs. As we see with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry and those guys, it’s a lot of discipline that takes place, that needs to be, for the defense to stop a running quarterback.”
When it comes to dynamic running back duos, Armstead knows what to look for. Just two years ago, he was part of a Dolphins offense that led the NFL in yards per rush attempt (5.1) on the strength of a one-two punch at running back: Raheem Mostert (1,012 yards) and De’Von Achane (800 yards).
Back in 2017, Armstead blocked for a Saints offense that finished second-best in yards per rush attempt (4.7) behind the tandem of Mark Ingram (1,124 yards) and Alvin Kamara (728).
Armstead’s comments on Hall and Allen are worth heeding because of his firsthand experience blocking for elite running back duos. If his prediction holds true, Aaron Glenn’s vision of a multi-faceted backfield could pay dividends, even if it diminishes Hall’s individual ceiling (from a fantasy football perspective).
Speaking at the owners meetings in March, Glenn made headlines when he grouped Hall with the Jets’ other two running backs, Allen and Isaiah Davis, rather than propping him up as a face of the organization.
“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,” Glenn said during the league meetings. “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 June, Hall told reporters that Glenn squashed trade conversations surrounding the Iowa State product.
“Breece, I don’t want to trade you. You’re our running back,” Glenn said in a phone conversation, per Hall.
Like Armstead, Glenn has been a part of multiple successful teams that benefited from a top-tier running back duo. Glenn was also a member of the 2017 Saints team featuring Ingram and Kamara. Over the past two years in Detroit, he witnessed the thunder-and-lightning dynamicism of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Glenn wants to create the same type of magic in New York, and one of the NFL’s best offensive linemen of the past decade believes the first-year head coach will pull it off.