FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets have locked up their offensive centerpiece after reaching a lucrative contract extension with star running back Breece Hall on Friday.
Hall and the organization finalized a three-year deal valued at $45.75 million, a source with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed to The Associated Press. The franchise had previously placed the franchise tag on Hall, and his new agreement averaging $15.25 million annually positions him as the NFL’s third-highest compensated running back.
The source requested anonymity since the Jets have not yet made an official announcement regarding the extension.
“Cried for the first time since I tore my ACL,” Hall shared on X, referencing his devastating rookie season injury in 2022. “This day really hit different for me man.”
Hall’s yearly earnings trail only Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley at $20.6 million and San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey at $19 million in terms of average annual value. His compensation edges out Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, who earns $15 million per season.
The 24-year-old back achieved a personal milestone last season, accumulating 1,065 rushing yards despite sitting out the final contest due to a knee issue. This performance marked the first time a Jets player had surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in a single campaign since Chris Ivory accomplished the feat in 2015. Hall has now recorded three consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage, joining just five other players in franchise history to reach this benchmark.
Selected in the second round of the 2022 draft from Iowa State, Hall will celebrate his 25th birthday on May 31. Unlike first-round teammates Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson, who received extensions last offseason, Hall’s future with the team remained uncertain. Trade speculation surrounded the dynamic back leading up to last year’s deadline.
However, head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey consistently expressed their desire to retain Hall’s services.
“He’s a playmaker and we want to keep playmakers around on both sides of the ball,” Mougey stated during February’s NFL combine. “He’s a proven playmaker and a good player, a good person, so want to find a way to keep Breece around.”
The Jets initially envisioned a three-back rotation featuring Hall alongside Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis last season. However, Allen’s knee injury that placed him on injured reserve left Davis as Hall’s primary backup.
With offensive coordinator Frank Reich and quarterback Geno Smith bringing new leadership to the unit, New York opted to franchise tag Hall, providing additional time for contract negotiations during the offseason.
The deadline for reaching an agreement was July 15, after which Hall would have been required to play under the one-year franchise tag worth $14.3 million.
Following the draft two weeks prior, Mougey suggested contract discussions would intensify. The organization completed the deal several weeks before voluntary organized team activities commence and well ahead of their mandatory minicamp.
New York’s restructured offense anticipates improved production this season after struggling with Smith at quarterback. The unit should benefit from Wilson’s return to full health following a knee injury that limited him to seven games, plus the addition of rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., both first-round selections.
Hall’s versatility as both a runner and receiver made securing his services beyond this season a top organizational priority for the Jets.
