The New York Jets have a Breece Hall problem. For fans who may not want to overexaggerate with the concept of a problem, a quandary fits this bill as well.
When Hall is good, he represents one of the NFL’s most complete running backs. As both a receiver and runner, Hall has the ability to make big plays on the field at any time.
The issue isn’t Hall’s ceiling; it’s instead about his floor, which is getting lower by the week in 2025.
In the last seven games, Hall has failed to average over 4.5 yards per carry. In the modern game, 4.5 yards per carry is considered average—a sign of effectiveness in a running back.
However, for the last two months, Hall has not even been good enough to be considered average, which raises questions about whether the running back is in an old-fashioned slump or if this kind of consistent inconsistency is a long-term concern the Jets must consider.
Is Breece Hall in a slump?
This is not the first time Hall has been in a slump.
In 2024, Hall failed to record over 4.5 yards per carry in six of the first seven games of the season. He finished with an average of just 4.2 with 876 total yards on the ground.
To end the season, though, he did not record a single game with over 60 yards on the ground as well.
The 2023 campaign featured more of the same.
From Oct. 15 to Dec. 24, Hall did not have a single game with over four yards per carry. Fans, at the time, chalked that up to the veteran returning from Achilles surgery the prior year.
However, 2023’s slump is similar to 2024’s, which in turn is similar to this season. In short, a pattern emerges that highlights Hall’s ineffectiveness for extended periods throughout each season.
While there has to be some added context to the Hall quandary—he has faced stacked boxes throughout his NFL career due to the Jets’ inability to field a competent passing attack during his tenure—the numbers are what they are.
And for a player who is looking for a long-term extension in the offseason, Hall’s production does not match the kind of pay he may be expecting.
Even if he’s close to putting up his first 1,000-yard season ever.
The Jets’ offseason outlook
The numbers behind Hall late in the season are alarming. It shows a running back that is far too hit or miss to be given a contract as high as the Jets’ runner is going to want in the offseason.
A serious concern of breaking down by season’s end—common among some running backs—is also a consistent possibility.
When Hall is at his best, the Jets offense can be lethal. Fans have seen that this year in performances against the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. But for every dominant showing, there are these month-long runs, like in December, when Hall’s lack of effectiveness hurts the team most.
For a team that is still determining which players they should keep around for the long haul, the Jets must determine if Hall’s consistent penchant for slumping is something they want to pay over $10 million a year for.
It won’t be an easy call for the Jets to make.