Jets fans get their chain snatched as Giants' Arvell Reese wins rookie honors

For the first time this year, the New York Jets have lost a Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award. After capturing four of the first eight belts of the 2026 season, they were up for a fifth this week thanks to David Bailey's two-sack, two-forced-fumble outing against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Unfortunately, New York Giants rookie Arvell Reese took home the honors. In Big Blue's first win at Lincoln Financial Field since 2013, the former Ohio State Buckeye recorded 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble.

No one is arguing the fact that Reese doesn't deserve the award. In fact, he was easily the league's best rookie this past weekend, anchoring the middle of a Giants defense that has been riddled with injuries. He also took home NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts.

But for a fanbase that almost exclusively takes home the award when one of their players is up for it, the Jets should be embarrassed. They got their chain snatched by Giants fans, and it's honestly pretty indicative of the apathy that has set in over the course of the 2026 season.

New York Jets fans lose first Rookie of the Week vote this season

All three of the Jets' first-round draft picks have won Rookie of the Week honors at least once this season. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq was the first, bringing the belt back to Florham Park after his seven-catch, 105-yard, touchdown outing against the Detroit Lions in Week 3.

Then, Bailey won it in Week 5, thanks to his breakout three-sack performance in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns. Similar to Reese this week, the No. 2 overall pick also won AFC Defensive Player of the Week thanks to his production.

Most recently, wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. took it home two weeks in a row in Weeks 6 and 7 for his back-to-back 100-yard, one-touchdown outings against the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.

After those four games, there was no doubt that a Jets rookie was going to take home an award. Optimism was still at an okay level for fans.

Now that the team is 2-7, the season is effectively over. It seems like fans could care less about what happens for the remainder of the year, and for good reason.

The team seems committed to giving Aaron Glenn an opportunity to save his job, despite his track record stating the obvious of his abilities as a head coach.

Maybe if there's another rookie explosion, fans will turn back out for another vote. But right now, there's hardly anything to cheer about in Jets land.

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