It’s easy to miss Jowon Briggs’ excellence in an otherwise dismal New York Jets season.

Briggs’ four sacks are solid, but they don’t jump off the page, nor do they even lead a team that ranks 31st in sacks. He is also part of a defensive front that has been pummeled all season.

So why should fans be high on the 24-year-old?

The reality is that Briggs has been the Jets’ defensive rock all season. His consistency is something that most other defensive players on the team have lacked.

Briggs’ 74.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus leads the Jets’ entire defense, regardless of position. All year, he has been a steady presence in the run game and a dynamic force as a pass rusher.

Pass-rush win rate among DT this season (min. 250 pass-rush snaps)

1. Jeffery Simmons (20.1%)
2. Chris Jones (16.6%)
3. Jowon Briggs (15.6%)
4. Cameron Heyward (14.9%)#Jets

— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) December 30, 2025

Initially an afterthought in the Jets’ long-term plans, acquired for a late-round pick swap from the lowly Browns, the former seventh-round pick has developed into the Jets’ lone cornerstone at defensive tackle—and perhaps the entire defense.

Briggs remains Jets’ lone star on defense

The Jets expected Briggs to be productive against the run; it’s what made him a rookie standout in Cleveland. He’s done the same in New York, ranking fourth on the team with 17 run stops.

What the Jets did not expect was Briggs’ elite pass rushing. Since Briggs took on a bigger role following the Quinnen Williams trade, he has been one of the best interior rushers in the NFL. He has racked up 28 total pressures since Week 10, tied for sixth among defensive tackles.

Head coach Aaron Glenn acknowledged Briggs’ development in that area.

“There’s a couple of guys that I can look at when we talked about that (players seizing opportunities), and Briggs is one of them,” Glenn said. “When he came in, I think he was known as just a true run stopper, and he’s done a really good job of that. But he’s shown he has a knack for actually rushing the passer also.”

The Cincinnati product’s greatness goes beyond his on-field impact. What really makes Briggs so special is his team-first attitude, which continues to shine through in what has been a challenging season in 2025.

“For me, I’d say it’s just continued faith,” Briggs said on Wednesday. “Continuing to believe in what we decide to have going on. For me, I’m a guy that likes to put the horse blinders on, go to work, and then be able to take care of my one-eleventh.

“I say it all the time — you can be selfish or selfless. Be able to take care of what you have going on, be so selfish about doing what you have to do, that it helps the greater good. Do your job the best you can, and you’ll be able to help others, and that’s kind of how I decide to live my football life.”

Briggs’ coaches are excited about what he can do for the team moving forward.

“Briggs has been doing some really good things, affecting the quarterback, pushing the pocket, getting some pressures,” said interim defensive coordinator Chris Harris. “We are really pleased with where he’s at and him continuing to grow within our defensive scheme.”

In discussions about the Jets’ defensive line, first-round picks like Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson are the first names brought up. McDonald’s season is over with underwhelming numbers. Johnson’s first season since suffering an Achilles injury has seen limited production.

Briggs, meanwhile, has quickly become the driving force for a defense that lacks quality talent.

As the 2025 season comes to a close, the organization is seeking players who can anchor the roster moving forward. Few players have met those standards throughout a late-season run marred by consistent blowouts. Briggs is a rare exception.