If you haven't checked the box scores in a few months, you might want to sit down. The New York Jets quarterback situation has officially entered the "wait, who?" phase of its existence. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. Honestly, it is exactly what we should have expected from a team that seems to have a magnetic attraction to quarterback drama.
As of January 2026, the answer to who is the New York Jets quarterback isn't a single name—it's a revolving door. For the final stretch of the 2025 season, the guy under center was actually Brady Cook, an undrafted rookie out of Missouri.
Yeah, you read that right. Not Aaron Rodgers. Not a high-priced savior. A kid who wasn't even drafted in 2024.
How did we get here? Basically, the Jets' 2025 season was a slow-motion car crash that involved three different starters, a "messy breakup" with a future Hall of Famer, and a whole lot of questions about why this franchise can't ever just have a normal year. If you're looking for stability, you've come to the wrong place.
The Brady Cook Era (And why it happened)
Look, nobody planned for Brady Cook to be the face of the franchise. He started the year on the practice squad. But by December, head coach Aaron Glenn (who replaced Robert Saleh) didn't have many other options.
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The Jets were sitting at a dismal 3-13. Both the primary veterans on the roster were sidelined. Tyrod Taylor was dealing with a groin injury and some personal time off, and Justin Fields—the big "bounce back" hope of the 2025 offseason—was on Injured Reserve with a knee issue after being benched for poor play.
Cook became the first undrafted rookie to start at QB for the Jets since Bill Demory back in 1973. That is a wild stat. In his few starts, including the season finale against the Buffalo Bills, Cook showed some "traits," as the coaches like to say. He’s got some mobility and a decent arm, but the results were... well, they were rookie results. He threw five interceptions in his first three starts.
Still, the coaching staff kept him in there. Why? Because the alternatives were gone.
What happened to Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields?
To understand who is the New York Jets quarterback today, you have to look at the ghosts of the last two seasons. The Aaron Rodgers experiment didn't just fail; it imploded. After a "rusty" 2024 season following his Achilles recovery, the Jets and Rodgers had what insiders called a "messy breakup" last offseason.
Rodgers didn't retire, though. He went to the Pittsburgh Steelers, led them to an AFC North title, and just finished his 2025 season with a Wild Card loss. He even took a subtle dig at the Jets recently, mentioning he’s played for "two special places" (meaning Green Bay and Pittsburgh). Ouch.
The Justin Fields Gamble
Once Rodgers was out, the Jets pivoted to Justin Fields. They signed him to a two-year deal, hoping a change of scenery would unlock the dual-threat magic he showed in flashes with the Bears.
It started okay. Fields started nine games in 2025. He ran for four touchdowns and threw for seven. But the passing accuracy just wasn't there. By mid-November, Aaron Glenn had seen enough and benched Fields for the veteran Tyrod Taylor.
- Justin Fields' 2025 Stats: 11 total TDs, 1 interception (surprisingly low!), but abysmal passing efficiency.
- Status: Currently on Injured Reserve.
- Future: Likely to be released this offseason as the team looks to move on.
Why the Jets are back at square one
If you think the Jets have a plan for 2026, you're more optimistic than most of the fans at MetLife Stadium. The team currently holds the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. For a while, the "plan" was simple: draft Dante Moore, the star quarterback from Oregon.
Then, the "Jets luck" struck again. Just days ago, Moore announced he’s staying in school. He isn't entering the draft.
This leaves the Jets in a terrifying spot. Tyrod Taylor is 36 and a pending free agent. Hendon Hooker is on the roster but hasn't seen the field much. Jordan Travis, the 2024 fifth-round pick, was forced to retire earlier in 2025 due to that devastating leg injury he suffered back at Florida State.
The Tyrod Taylor Factor
Tyrod is the consummate pro, but he's not the long-term answer. Interestingly, there's a weird "Tyrod Taylor Curse" (or blessing?) that fans are talking about. Almost every time Tyrod leaves a team—Buffalo, Cleveland, even the Chargers—that team finds their franchise guy the following year.
Fans are basically hoping that by letting Tyrod walk in free agency this March, the universe will finally reward them with a real quarterback. It’s a desperate theory, but when you're a Jets fan, what else do you have?
Current Depth Chart (As of January 2026)
| Player | Status | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Brady Cook | Active | Season-ending Starter |
| Tyrod Taylor | Pending UFA | Veteran Backup / Bridge |
| Justin Fields | Injured Reserve | Likely Release Candidate |
| Hendon Hooker | Active | Developmental / Backup |
Honestly, looking at that list, it’s clear the Jets don't have "the guy" yet. Brady Cook was a nice story for a few weeks in December, but he isn't the savior.
What happens next?
The search for who is the New York Jets quarterback is going to dominate the 2026 offseason. Since Dante Moore is out of the draft, the Jets are at a crossroads. Do they take a chance on a different prospect like Fernando Mendoza? Or do they try to trade for a veteran again?
NFL insider Ian Rapoport and draft experts like Todd McShay are suggesting the Jets might actually use their high draft pick to build the rest of the team—offensive line, defense—and wait until 2027 to "ammo up" for a quarterback like Arch Manning or Dante Moore when he finally goes pro.
Actionable Insights for Jets Fans:
- Watch the Release Wire: Expect a decision on Justin Fields' contract by March. If they cut him, it’s a total reset.
- Monitor Free Agency: Keep an eye on names like Malik Willis. Some analysts think he could be a target after his stint in Green Bay.
- The No. 2 Pick: Don't be surprised if the Jets draft a defensive stud like Caleb Downs or Arvell Reese instead of a quarterback. They might finally be realizing that putting a rookie QB behind a shaky line is a recipe for disaster.
The 2025 season was a reality check. The Jets tried the "old legend" route with Rodgers and the "young reclamation project" with Fields. Neither worked. Now, they're left with Brady Cook and a very empty trophy case.
If you want to know who will be starting in Week 1 of 2026, the honest answer is: nobody knows yet. But for right now, the job technically belongs to a kid from Missouri who's just trying to survive the New York media.