After inking a three-year, $45 million extension with the team last offseason, New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood took a massive step back in 2025.
Now, entering the 2026 season, his goal is simple: improve in every area.
“[I want] to be better than I was last year,” said Sherwood. “Grow in a bunch of different areas. Become a better teammate for all the new guys, showing them around, especially since I’m going into Year 6. Finally feel like I have a great understanding of what’s going on.”
During his breakout season in 2024, Sherwood was named the Jets’ team MVP while leading all NFL linebackers with 98 solo tackles.
The 2025 season, though, was entirely different for the Auburn product.
He struggled in coverage, as his 2024 Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 66.2 plummeted to 46.1 in 2025, ranking 66th among 88 qualified linebackers. Beyond that, he was also benched at one point despite being a captain.
As we recently broke down, Sherwood must bounce back for the team in 2026. If not, he could find his way off the roster before his lucrative three-year extension expires.
A main reason he could have fallen off in 2025 is that he was taking on much more responsibility in a new scheme under Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks, a very different role from the one he played under Jeff Ulbrich and Robert Saleh.
The good news is that, thanks to the Jets’ signing of Demario Davis this offseason, Sherwood should be able to play more freely, as the 37-year-old is expected to wear the team’s green dot.
“We were a young team. When there were times I needed someone to rely on, for the last few weeks, he’s been there,” Sherwood said of the importance of Davis already.
The 2026 campaign is shaping up to be the most important of Sherwood’s NFL career.
