A lot went wrong for the New York Jets during the 2024 season. Their five wins a season ago saw career-worst years from some of the organization’s best players, including a Hall-of-Fame quarterback.

Not everyone played poorly, though.

Then-second-year center Joe Tippmann enjoyed something of a breakout season in his first full year as a starter. He finished as a top 10 center according to Pro Football Focus, and looked the part of an ascending talent.

But the Jets’ new regime had a different idea for Tippmann’s role in 2025. The arrival of Aaron Glenn has pushed the Wisconsin product into a competition for the starting job with free agent pickup Josh Myers.

And the matchup appears to be a lot closer than people realize.

Jets Center Battle Update

When the Jets signed Myers to a one-year free agent deal during the offseason, it was easy for analysts to gloss over the meaning of the move. Myers’ $3 million salary was equivalent to a backup offensive lineman role on any given team.

Glenn’s comments regarding a center position battle quickly changed everyone’s tune.

With the announcement of a position battle at center, New York is pitting a young prospect with plenty of upside against a player who has never reached the ceiling many expected, but has plenty of experience.

It has left Glenn and the Jets coaching staff thrilled with what they have seen.

“That is one of the battles that I am really enjoying, and I think everybody understands, on this team, like the battles that we have as far as position is concerned,” Glenn said after practice on Monday. “But both of those men, first off they’re smart, and they’ve picked this offense up fairly quickly.

“It is a fierce, fierce battle, and I actually wanted it to be that way, just across the board.”

Myers made 56 starts over his four-year career in Green Bay, including 50 over the past three seasons, showing off his durability. Tippmann, meanwhile, was ranked much higher than Myers on most center rankings last season.

So, who will come out on top?

The prevailing theory is that this is still Tippmann’s job to lose. As a former second-round pick, the Jets don’t want to give up on such a highly-drafted player who clearly has skill.

As much as Myers may be able to push Tippmann to earning that time, he doesn’t have the financial backing to truly give New York a reason to push a young player to the bench.

The only way Myers can conceivably get playing time over Tippmann is if he outplays him.

And while this position battle is a lot closer than many anticipated, it still seems like the third-year center is on his way to winning the job once again.