New York Jets: A look back on quarterback Bryce Petty

The New York Jets have had an array of quarterbacks over the years. Here’s looking back on the career of Bryce Petty from the good to the bad to the ugly.

The New York Jets have been wildly searching for a franchise quarterback for the last 50 some odd years since ‘Broadway’ Joe Namath hung up his cleats.

During that pursuit, the Jets have swung and missed more times than most can count.

One of those swings of the bat was Bryce Petty.

The green and white drafted Petty in the fourth round (actually traded up for him) back in 2015.

During his rookie season, he rode the pine behind Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith.

Petty’s best moment was arguably during a Week 14 game. It was in 2016. Petty earned his first win starting against the San Francisco 49ers. He set a career milestone for himself during this game. He threw for 257 yards as his Jets sealed the deal that day.

What’s more impressive was the comeback with the Jets down 17-3. Petty overcoming that was huge, while setting his own personal best was a win-win in all of the books.

Petty could have been something special. The New York Jets have a long track record of blowing the developmental stages for a quarterback. Bryce had it all:

• Arm.
• Youth.
• Accuracy.

Petty did not have:

• Stamina.
• Correct fundamentals.
• Health.
• Proper development by Jets coaching staff.

Despite being crowned the starter, he’s had too many injuries to keep track of, all of which affected his play.

On May 3 of 2018, the Jets didn’t feel it was petty to part ways with Bryce. After all, they’d given him three years to be all they asked and more which is to get some wins, develop into something special, and a chance of becoming the franchise quarterback. He couldn’t get it done in New York.

All in all, the Jets hoped Petty could end the vicious cycle at quarterback, but he ended up being just another random name that came and left without much fanfare.

Bryce clearly didn’t fit the picture long term. There were occasional flashes/glimpses of what could’ve been, but it never materialized. Overall I’m handing him a D for his professional career with the green and white.