Since 2000, the New York Jets have started 27 different quarterbacks, reflecting a long-standing struggle to find stability at the position. The current starter, Geno Smith, is a 36-year-old veteran in the midst of his second stint with the team. Originally selected by the Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Smith’s initial tenure was unsuccessful and marked by off-field incidents rather than on-field accomplishments. After leaving New York, he revitalized his career in Seattle, establishing himself as a reliable starter before being replaced by Sam Darnold, another former Jets quarterback.

Smith has performed admirably this season. Entering Week 6, he posted a passer rating of 104.2, ranking seventh in the league. He has thrown six touchdowns without an interception and completed nearly 70 percent of his passes, trailing only Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow among quarterbacks with at least four games played. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel praised Smith for his decisiveness and ability to generate big plays, calling him a well-seasoned quarterback who understands the demands of the position.

Despite Smith’s solid play, the Jets view him as a temporary solution rather than a long-term answer. The franchise continues to search for a franchise quarterback amid ongoing instability at the position. Meanwhile, the Patriots have faced a rotating cast of Jets starters in recent matchups, including Justin Fields and Brady Cook last season, emphasizing the Jets’ revolving door at quarterback.

Attention is beginning to shift toward the Jets’ young quarterback, 24-year-old Marcus Maye, who has shown signs of promise after a difficult start to the season. After throwing one touchdown and six interceptions in the first three games, Maye has rebounded with standout performances, including a key comeback win over the Buffalo Bills and a dominant 45–17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. In the latter, he became only the fourth player in NFL history to pass for over 350 yards, throw four touchdowns, achieve a passer rating above 150, and rush for a touchdown in the same game. Over the past two weeks, Maye leads the league with a 123.2 passer rating, a dramatic improvement from a 58.6 rating that ranked 31st early in the season.

Maye’s NFL debut came ironically against the Jets on September 19, 2024, when he appeared briefly in a 24–3 Patriots win. His progress offers a potential glimmer of hope for the Jets, a franchise still burdened by the longest playoff drought among major North American sports teams. The Jets last qualified for the postseason in 2010, when they advanced to the AFC championship with an upset over the then top-seeded Patriots. That run remains the high-water mark for the franchise in the 21st century as the team continues its search for sustained success at quarterback and beyond.