Underrated NY Jets standout from last season signals he won’t be back

So much for that.

Justin Fried

Jalen Mills / Mike Carlson/GettyImages

Jalen Mills wasn’t supposed to be a key piece of the New York Jets’ defense in 2024, but by the end of the season, he had proven to be one of the team's most reliable contributors.

Mills was signed to the Jets practice squad in late September as a midseason veteran flier to give the team extra secondary depth. The former New England Patriots defensive back was released by the New York Giants the previous month and signed on with the Jets with the hope of continuing his NFL career.

He did more than that. Mills' experience quickly proved valuable to the Jets, as he would soon find himself on the active roster. Mills appeared in nine games for the Jets in 2024, making eight starts, before a broken collarbone ended his season prematurely.

With the Jets reshaping some of their secondary under a new regime in 2025, Mills' future with the Jets remains unclear. The nine-year veteran certainly doesn't sound optimistic about his chances of returning next season.

Jalen Mills suggests he's played his final game with the NY Jets

Mills added some intrigue to his free agency status with a candid response on X (formerly Twitter). A Jets fan had posted in support of Mills returning to the team, insisting that the team should re-sign the veteran safety on a multi-year deal.

Mills’ response? “I was hoping to go back ..”

I was hoping to go back ..
— Jalen Mills (@greengoblin) March 14, 2025

His reply suggests he wanted to return to New York, but the wording hints that it may not be in the cards. Whether the Jets have different plans or talks simply haven’t progressed, Mills' future with the team remains uncertain.

Mills was a revelation for the Jets in 2024. His versatility proved valuable to a Jets secondary dealing with a number of injuries, as Mills was asked to play everywhere from safety to nickel cornerback.

It wasn't just his performance on the field that turned heads, however. Mills quickly established himself as one of the team's most vocal on and off-field leaders. By his third game in New York, Mills was already breaking down the pre-game defensive back huddle.

That versatility and leadership should, in theory, make him a perfect fit for new head coach Aaron Glenn's defense, but the Jets might have other plans. The team already re-signed veteran Isaiah Oliver, who played under defensive coordinator Steve Wilks in San Francisco.

Oliver fills a similar role to Mills as a do-it-all veteran defensive back with the versatility to play both safety and nickel cornerback. The Jets might not see a role for both players on their roster.

Mills also turns 31 years old in less than a month and is still recovering from that broken collarbone. It's possible the Jets want to give some of the young defensive backs on their roster more of a look in 2025.

Mills exceeded expectations for the Jets last season, stepping up as a versatile defensive piece when injuries hit and emerging as a veteran leader in the secondary. Unfortunately, despite his strong play and desire to return, his latest comments suggest a reunion is unlikely.

More NY Jets news and analysis:

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.