Jets Break Interception Drought in Preseason Game
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The New York Jets made the wrong kind of history during the 2025 season, becoming the first franchise to go an entire regular season without intercepting a single pass. That dubious distinction hung over a defense that has long been a national punchline. But on Saturday night, in a preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jets finally got their hands on the ball.
Midway through the second quarter, Steelers second-year quarterback Will Howard tried to hit wide receiver Roman Wilson on a short route. Veteran safety Andre Cisco read the play perfectly, jumped the route, and pulled down the interception. Howard gave chase and made the tackle, preventing what could have been a pick-six. The Jets sideline erupted. For a team that hadn't seen a defender catch a pass in a meaningful game since the 2024 season, it was a small but significant moment.
"Our ball," the Jets posted on social media, and the clip quickly circulated.
As if one interception wasn't enough, the defense struck again later in the same quarter. This time, Floyd Womack undercut a crossing route, snagging Howard's pass and creating another turnover. The back-to-back picks gave the Jets a taste of normalcy they had desperately missed.
To put the drought in perspective: the last time a Jets defender caught a pass in any football game—regular season or preseason—was in Week 3 of the 2025 preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles, when Malachi Moore intercepted a Kyle McCord pass. The most recent interception that actually counted came in Week 18 of the 2024 season, when Ashtyn Davis picked off Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley twice in a 32-20 win. That is nearly two full calendar years without a regular-season pick.
Saturday's interceptions, of course, do not count in the official statistics. Preseason games are for evaluation and preparation, not records. But for a defense that has been mocked for its inability to force turnovers, seeing the ball in the hands of their own players is a psychological boost. The Jets' secondary, which includes veterans like Cisco and young corners, has been under pressure to prove they can generate takeaways.
Head coach and defensive coordinator have emphasized creating turnovers throughout camp. The two interceptions against the Steelers show that the schemes are working, even if the opponent is a backup quarterback and the game doesn't matter. The question now is whether this momentum can carry into the regular season, when the games count and the pressure is real.
The Jets still have time to fine-tune their defense before the season opener. The preseason performance against Pittsburgh may not erase the stigma of 2025, but it offers a glimpse of what could be. For a franchise that has been searching for an identity, any sign of life is welcome.
Article commentary
The New York Jets' interception drought in the 2025 season was more than a statistical anomaly—it was a symptom of deeper defensive issues. A team that prides itself on defense went an entire year without a single interception, an unprecedented failure in modern NFL history. The two interceptions in Saturday's preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, while statistically meaningless, provide a crucial psychological reset for a unit that desperately needed one. From a strategic standpoint, the interceptions came against a second-year quarterback, Will Howard, who is still developing. Howard's telegraphed passes and poor decision-making are not representative of the starting-caliber quarterbacks the Jets will face in the regular season. Still, the ability of Andre Cisco to read the route and jump it, and Floyd Womack to undercut a crossing pattern, shows that the defensive backs are executing the scheme. The coaching staff can use these plays as teaching moments to build confidence. The deeper concern is whether the Jets' defensive backs have the talent to consistently create turnovers against elite competition. The 2025 season saw a lack of playmaking from the secondary, and the front office made few significant changes. Cisco is a veteran addition, but the unit remains largely the same. The preseason interceptions may be a mirage, a temporary reprieve from a lingering problem. Another factor is the quarterback play the Jets will face. The AFC East features Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, and (potentially) a healthy Aaron Rodgers. These quarterbacks are far less likely to throw interceptions than a preseason backup. The Jets' defense will need to generate pressure to force mistakes, not just rely on coverage. Culturally, the drought has been a weight on the franchise. The team has been a punching bag for years, and the lack of interceptions became a symbol of broader dysfunction. Any positive play, even in a meaningless game, helps shift the narrative. The locker room can feed off these moments. Ultimately, the Jets' defense will be judged by its regular-season performance. The preseason interceptions are a step in the right direction, but they are not a cure-all. The team still needs to prove it can take the ball away when it matters. Until then, the infamous 2025 season remains a haunting reminder of how far they have to go.