BALTIMORE — The New York Jets are on the cusp of making NFL history, but not the kind any team wants to claim. Through 10 games this season, the Jets' defense has yet to record a single interception, allowing 302 passes to be thrown against them without a turnover of that variety. If the streak holds when they face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, the Jets would become the first team in league history to reach 11 games without picking off a pass, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The drought has left players, coaches and even the franchise's storied past figures scratching their heads. Bill Baird, the Jets' all-time leader with 34 career interceptions and a starting safety on the Super Bowl III championship team in 1969, called the situation stunning during a phone interview from his home in Fresno, California. "That's -- wow, I don't know what to really say about that," Baird, now 86, said. "That seems to go along with their struggles." Baird, who also coached the Jets' defensive backs from 1981 to 1984, honed his skills as a rookie covering Hall of Famers like Raymond Berry and John Mackey on the Baltimore Colts, with Johnny Unitas at quarterback.
Current Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has emphasized creating opportunities rather than relying on chance. "I don't believe in luck," Wilks said. "We have to create our own luck." The team reviews film of other defenses turning deflections into interceptions and discusses the topic in meetings, but the results haven't followed. Despite ranking sixth in the league in pass breakups, the Jets simply can't secure the ball, as noted in an ESPN analysis.
The irony deepens when considering the Jets' coaching staff. Defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn, who intercepted 24 passes during his playing career with the team — tied for fourth on the all-time list — finds the zero-interception mark hard to fathom. "It's tough to imagine" having no picks and just one takeaway overall, a fumble recovery, Glenn said. Since 1960, when the Jets entered the league as the Titans of New York before relocating and rebranding, the franchise's fewest interceptions in a season stand at six, which occurred in 2014 during Rex Ryan's final year as head coach. For context, the NFL record for fewest in a season since then is two, set by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. The longest interception-less streak at any point in a season since 1960 is 14 games, also by the 49ers earlier this year.
Adding to the bafflement, the Jets have been outdone by 148 individual players league-wide in interceptions, including six defensive linemen and even New York Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II, who weighs 340 pounds. Sixteen rookies have at least one interception this season, such as RJ Mickens with two — the son of former Jets cornerback Ray Mickens, who had 11 in his career.
Off the field, the Jets' quarterback woes compound the defensive frustrations. Justin Fields has been benched in favor of veteran Tyrod Taylor, prompting questions about Fields' future with the team. Glenn sidestepped direct comments on the matter, but the shift suggests a new starter is likely next season. Fields' contract, which includes $20 million due next year with half fully guaranteed, exceeds typical backup pay. Releasing him would incur a $22 million cap hit and $10 million cash payout, which the Jets could absorb in 2026 or spread over two years, according to salary cap analysts at Spotrac.
Taylor, 36, steps into the spotlight against the Ravens, the team that drafted him in the sixth round of 2011. He described the matchup as "a full-circle moment." Taylor, who served as Joe Flacco's backup on Baltimore's 2012 Super Bowl-winning squad, reminisced this week with former teammate Torrey Smith. "I remember when I got drafted, there were some people who wanted to put me at wide receiver," Taylor said. "I fought the notion down, and I stood firm that I was a quarterback. That's what I played my whole life, and if given the opportunity, I can show that. Fifteen years later, I'm still proving it."
Taylor's endurance stands out in a league that chews up signal-callers. He is one of only five players from the 2011 draft class still active, joined by linebacker Von Miller of the Washington Commanders, defensive end Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and quarterback Andy Dalton of the Carolina Panthers.
Looking ahead, the Jets' quarterback depth includes rookie Brady Cook on the practice squad, an undrafted free agent out of Missouri. Cook played 77 preseason snaps, edging out Adrian Martinez for the spot, and is noted for his quick processing and mobility, though his arm strength is considered limited. Glenn hinted at potential opportunities without specifics. "And who knows? We'll see what happens as the season progresses," Glenn said. "I'm not promising anything, but he knows exactly what his role is when it comes to this team." Fan interest in Cook has surged amid the team's desperation at the position, buoyed perhaps by his first name evoking New England great Tom Brady.
Draft preparations are already underway, with buzz building around Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as a potential top prospect. A longtime personnel executive, speaking anonymously, suggested the Jets' needs could elevate Mendoza's stock. "When you're desperate, you can create a guy," the executive said. "There's enough with Mendoza to do that." ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller projected the Jets trading up to the No. 1 overall pick for Mendoza in his latest mock draft. General manager Darren Mougey has scouted Mendoza in person at least once, though evaluations remain preliminary.
On the defensive line, edge rusher Jermaine Johnson is tweaking his approach to boost performance. He's avoiding sugary drinks to shed weight and gain speed, aiming for that extra burst to convert pressures into sacks. The effort appears to be paying off, with Johnson notching sacks in back-to-back games.
Financially, the Jets are burdened by past decisions, carrying $101 million in dead money on their 2024 salary cap — the second-highest total in the NFL and nearly 40% of their overall cap space, per Spotrac. This stems from a series of contract missteps that continue to hamstring the roster.
Sunday's game also carries historical weight for the franchise. It marks the 30th anniversary of owner Leon Hess' infamous "horses' asses" speech on November 23, 1995 — Thanksgiving Day — when the 2-9 Jets gathered on the practice field for a motivational rant. "Now let's go out there and show 'em we're not a bunch of horses' asses," Hess, then 81, told the team. The Jets responded with a win over the Seattle Seahawks that weekend, their last victory in a 3-13 season, but then dropped 12 straight games, not winning again until October 27 of the following year.
Optimism lingers on offense, particularly with wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand praised Mitchell's route-running despite some drops. "The drops, that happens occasionally, but what I see there is separation," Engstrand said. "I see separation and, to me, that gets me fired up. That gets me excited about that player and where he's going to go. We haven't seen it. We haven't even scratched the surface with that guy."
As the Jets navigate this interception drought and quarterback uncertainty, the Ravens present a formidable test. Lamar Jackson has thrown just three interceptions in seven games this season, making a breakthrough even tougher. With free agency and the draft approaching in March, the team's offseason moves could redefine their trajectory, but for now, the focus remains on breaking the streak and salvaging the campaign.