Football families are a dime a dozen. Some, like the Manning family, are about to be on their third generation of the NFL once Arch Manning makes his eventual arrival.

Others, like the Kelce or Watt families, have found their careers intertwined.

For teams like the New York Jets, bringing in players with an NFL pedigree, whether it’s the son of a Hall-of-Fame star or the cousin of a Super Bowl MVP, has been a focus for the last few years. It’s a potential way to end their recent playoff drought.

But as the team gets closer to the start of rookie minicamp, that pedigree is something New York is relying on more than ever before.

NFL pedigree

When the Jets drafted tight end Mason Taylor in the second round of the 2025 draft, they believed the son of Hall-of-Fame edge rusher Jason would be able to make an impact right away on their season.

That happened, even if it wasn’t with the kind of success New York envisioned. Taylor led the team in receptions (44) and was second-best in yards (369), although big numbers were hard to come by within the worst passing offense in the league.

Early on in the year, though, Taylor relied heavily on the words his dad passed down.

“My dad shot me a text, ‘Just stay where your feet are,’” Taylor said after practice on Saturday. “We always say that in our family — day by day, attack the day. Get better every single day, and really be where your feet are. Don’t look into the future or into the past, and just take advantage of every moment you get.”

The Jets found success in the NFL pedigree of Taylor. It’s part of the reason why the team also drafted defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. out of Florida State this year. Jackson, the nephew of Super Bowl XXXVII MVP Dexter Jackson, has already spoken about his uncle’s impact on his new journey in the NFL.

“Just watching him growing up, I knew he played for Florida State, and I knew I wanted to play at Florida State and follow his footsteps,” Jackson said. “Our communication is great. He just gives me little details, just going into the league and what to expect.”

Both Jackson and Taylor have NFL history in their blood. If they can produce to a level close to their mentors did, then the Jets can be pleased with their player development pool.

Jets’ point of emphasis

Not every son of a great player turns out to be a Hall-of-Famer. It’s pretty clear Bronny James will never be as good as his future Hall-of-Fame father, for example.

But the Jets aren’t asking for Taylor or Jackson to be what their relatives were. They are simply asking for the best out of each player to carve a quality role in 2026 and beyond.

That pedigree is something the Jets value more than other teams. They believe it allows them to fully teach young players the main schematical points, instead of being a guide on how each player needs to act in the NFL. Taylor and Jackson already know. They saw it themselves.

Both players will need to step up in key ways this season. Neither of their roles are guaranteed following New York’s offseason.

But adversity is something players with past NFL pedigree know how to deal with. That will serve Taylor and Jackson well in the position battles to come.