Jets fans' Micheal Clemons nightmare officially over with Colts signing

Take a deep breath, New York Jets fans. The Micheal Clemons era has officially come and gone.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports Clemons agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts, worth $17.5 million with upside that could get it to $18.5 million. The former Jets defensive end, after four years in New York, is finally moving on.

Clemons has been the source of frustrations for many Jets fans throughout his tenure. Whether it be bone-headed penalties or missed plays, the Texas A&M product is not going to be missed by fans.

Over his four-year stint in New York, the 2022 fourth-round pick racked up 119 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss.

The Micheal Clemons Jets era is finally at an end

While Clemons himself isn't the worst football player to ever touch an NFL field, his presence in New York was a symbol of the missteps bridging the Robert Saleh era to Year 1 of the Aaron Glenn regime.

Glenn came into his first season as Jets head coach thinking he could get more out of Saleh's old core than the former coach would. He was sorely mistaken.

Players who should've been replaced last year weren't, and it led to a mind-boggling level of undeserved continuity from the 2024 season to 2025. Clemons included.

Despite not being a Week 1 starter, he still played a prominent role on the Jets' defensive line rotation, and his struggles persisted.

According to Pro Football Focus, the former Aggie was the 83rd-worst among 115 qualified edge rushers in 2025, which makes his contract all the more confusing.

Before free agency, Spotrac projected a two-year, $6.9 million deal on the open market. The Colts blew that out of the water, nearly doubling his projected annual average value.

The Jets made it an emphasis early on this offseason to completely overhaul their edge room. Out were Jermaine Johnson and Clemons; in were Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare. It's incredibly likely they're not done yet, either, with many signs pointing to a pass rusher with the No. 2 overall pick.

Regardless, Jets fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing one of their least-favorite players in the modern era is off to Indianapolis. Maybe he'll help get a better draft pick by playing a large role for the Colts in 2026.