The New York Jets leaned heavily toward the defensive side of the ball with their 2026 offseason moves.
How could they not? They had just completed a season in which they allowed 503 points and picked off zero passes.
New York signed a collection of veterans to eight-figure salaries in free agency, including Demario Davis, David Onyemata, Joseph Ossai, and Kingsley Enagbare. They snagged T’Vondre Sweat on the trade market and proceeded to draft David Bailey with the second overall pick, complementing him with D’Angelo Ponds in the second round.
However, of the many defensive pickups made by New York, no player came to the Jets with a more decorated resume than safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The Old Bridge, N.J. native is a five-time Pro Bowler and, more importantly, a three-time first-team All-Pro. New York sent a 2026 seventh-round pick to the division-rival Miami to beat the league to the punch before Fitzpatrick was released by the tanking Dolphins, and they proceeded to sign him to a new three-year, $40 million deal.
Based on average annual value, Fitzpatrick is the 13th-highest paid safety in the NFL, even with his 30th birthday approaching in November, which is usually considered the dreaded age when defensive backs hit “the wall”. It speaks volumes about how much gas the Jets think Fitzpatrick still has left in the tank.
New York was not misguided to buy into Fitzpatrick. In 2025, he remained the league’s sixth-ranked safety, according to Pro Football Focus’ rankings.
Now, the Jets are hoping Fitzpatrick can bring that same type of impact to a defensive unit that, while improved, can desperately use his very particular set of skills, perhaps to ensure what the Jets’ defense seeks is finally… taken (away).
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s return could be just what the Jets’ defense needs
Fitzpatrick played just six snaps in the Jets’ season opener before exiting with a groin injury, which kept him out of the team’s next two games.
At last, the Jets should see their most decorated offseason addition in action for more than just a few plays.
The safety position did not become a massive issue without Fitzpatrick. Dane Belton and Andre Cisco held the fort down admirably, making few noticeable mistakes.
Through three games, the Belton-Cisco duo combined for zero touchdowns allowed in coverage, zero penalties, and three missed tackles. In coverage, they were targeted 13 times and allowed 10 catches for 79 yards (7.9 yards per reception).
Belton, who won the starting job beside Fitzpatrick in Week 1, has been particularly solid. Despite spending most of his career as a strong safety, the Jets have used Belton at free safety, and he has played well, holding up as a reliable last line of defense against both the run and pass.
Cisco was tabbed to replace Fitzpatrick as the Jets’ strong safety, roaming around the field in various roles, while occasionally being deployed as a blitzer. He did a fine job, recording some splash plays as a rusher and mostly avoiding crucial mistakes.
While the safety position held steady in Fitzpatrick’s absence, his return brings something that has been noticeably lacking in the Jets’ defense: star power.
This applies not just to safety, but every position across the Jets’ defense. While New York played well defensively over the first two games, it was a collective effort, buoyed by solid play-calling from Aaron Glenn and balanced production across the depth chart.
For the Jets’ defense to take the next step, though, they need more “oomph”. The lack of it was evident in last week’s rough defensive outing against a Detroit offense littered with stars. If they don’t find a way to generate it, its absence will continue to be evident in games against quality offenses like Chicago’s, even if the Jets seem to be solid enough to beat up on weak offenses.
New York’s defense has only forced one takeaway (one of the team’s two takeaways was generated by the special teams), and the unit has yet to record an interception. Fitzpatrick, a three-time All-Pro, is the type of playmaker who could help facilitate the splash plays that the Jets’ defense has been lacking.
Fitzpatrick’s 21 career interceptions are tied for the fourth-most among active safeties. He is also tied for fourth among active safeties in combined forced and recovered fumbles (13).
While only two of Fitzpatrick’s 21 interceptions came over the last three seasons, part of Fitzpatrick’s decline in interceptions had to do with changes to his role. Under Aaron Glenn, who helped the Detroit Lions’ safety duo of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rack up 13 interceptions in 2024, Fitzpatrick is poised to be placed in more positions to make plays on the ball.
Fitzpatrick’s presence can also help tee up interception opportunities for his teammates. His reputation as a ball hawk could prompt opposing quarterbacks to bypass him in the progression and force a more contested pass to a less distinguished defender, putting the ball in harm’s way.
Sure, Fitzpatrick has not been an interception machine for a few years now, but his ability to make plays on the ball has yet to fall off.
Fitzpatrick remains a stalwart in man coverage. In 2025, he broke up five of the 13 passes thrown his way in man coverage. That’s a forced incompletion rate of 38.5%, which placed second-best among safeties with at least 10 man coverage targets, trailing only Talanoa Hufanga.
Even if Fitzpatrick only had one interception last year, opponents are still well aware of how effective he was at breaking up passes in man coverage. Any tipped pass could bounce the wrong way and get picked off.
For that reason, opponents could be hesitant to test Fitzpatrick, which may lead to them holding the ball too long for sacks (teeing up strip-sack chances off double-clutches) or forcing passes in other directions that should not have been attempted.
This domino effect could be especially prevalent on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, who are expected to start backup quarterback Tyson Bagent in his first NFL start since 2023.
Like most backups, ball security will be hammered into Bagent’s skull. Avoiding Fitzpatrick could be a part of the plan to accomplish that goal. Ironically, it could only put the ball in further danger if Bagent thinks too much about avoiding the veteran ball hawk.
We shall see how Ben Johnson and the Bears approach Fitzpatrick’s return. Perhaps they will be intent on testing the nearly 30-year-old safety in his first game back from a groin injury. That wouldn’t be the worst idea, either.
What’s certain is this: Few active NFL players have proven to be as adept at facilitating takeaways as Fitzpatrick, and no NFL franchise is in more desperate need of takeaways than the New York Jets.
For those reasons, Minkah Fitzpatrick’s return could be precisely what the Jets need to take their rising defense to the next level.
