Brady Cook’s family reaction to his first NFL TD will make you smile

Sunday was another rough day for the New York Jets, as the team was embarrassed to the tune of a 48-20 beatdown at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it did include a moment worth appreciating.

Undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook made his first NFL start in Week 15 and threw the first touchdown of his career. In a season that’s been defined by frustration, it was a small but meaningful moment, especially for Cook and his family, who were in attendance to see it happen.

Cook was thrust into the starting role under difficult circumstances, stepping in with the Jets shorthanded on offense and facing a Jaguars team that quickly turned the game into a blowout.

The final score overshadowed almost everything, but Cook’s touchdown managed to give fans a wholesome moment. Cameras captured his family’s reaction in the stands, and it was one of the few moments from the afternoon that brought genuine joy.

Brady Cook impressed despite the Jets' struggles in Week 15

The numbers from Cook's first NFL start don't look particularly great. He finished 22-of-33 for 176 yards and a touchdown, added six carries for 39 yards, and was sacked three times. He also threw three interceptions, although the last of the three wasn't necessarily his fault.

One came on a late and behind throw toward the sideline, while another was a lob into double coverage in the end zone that simply shouldn’t be thrown. The third interception, however, came late in the game and deserves context.

Cook tried to fit a tight-window throw to rookie wide receiver Arian Smith in garbage time, and Smith failed to make a play on the ball. It was a forced attempt, but also a young quarterback trying to make something happen with the game already out of reach. Smith didn't do his quarterback any favors.

While the numbers weren’t pretty, Cook didn’t look overwhelmed. He stayed composed, handled pressure reasonably well, and looked comfortable running the offense despite the circumstances.

He was playing with a receiving group that almost entirely wasn’t on the roster earlier in the season, without his starting tight end, and with a defense that allowed 48 points, including 31 in the first half. He was put behind the eight ball almost immediately.

Cook wasn’t great, but he looked like he belonged. That's not nothing for a team still evaluating its quarterback options heading into 2026. With little to lose over the final stretch, Cook may have done enough to warrant another start as the Jets continue to gather information.

Regardless of what comes next, Sunday gave him and his family a moment they’ll never forget. That's at least one reason to smile after a difficult afternoon.