Jets' Breece Hall 'Probably the Best Back in the NFL'

Fully recovered from ACL surgery, New York's RB1 ends 2023 season on high note in New England

Author:
Ralph Ventre
Publish date:
Jan 9, 2024 3:15 PM EST

In this story:

Breece Hall was oozing confidence following the New York Jets' triumphant regular season finale, and understandably so.

The second-year running back finished the season that same way he started it — running wild in a win over an AFC East rival.

Hall totaled 190 yards from scrimmage, including a 178-yard rushing performance, while powering the Jets (7-10) to a 17-3 victory over the New England Patriots on January 7. In the 2023 season opener, his first game action since tearing his ACL in October 2022, the speedy ball carrier gained 147 scrimmage yards on only 11 touches.

Despite some mid-season struggles, the season was clearly a success considering Hall held up throughout the entire 17-game slate.

"He turned the corner at some point in the second half of the season, right around the Atlanta game," said head coach Robert Saleh. "Just completely shifted into where it looked like, one, he was completely healthy. Two, just the mindset to run and finish."

Hall ended the season six yards shy of a 1,000-yard rushing campaign, but it doesn't lessen the running back's accomplishments over the past five months.

"I wasn't really upset because everybody in the league that watches me knows that I have the potential to be probably the best back in the NFL," said Hall.

Later on Sunday evening, Hall shared a video clip of his postgame comments through his X account and included a message that said "Standing on it 💯."

On his way to 994 yards rushing on 223 carries, Hall proved he is one of the league's fastest runners and also showed his pass-catching prowess.

The 2022 second-round draft pick hit 21.5 miles per hour on a 72-yard touchdown run at Denver in Week 5. In the opener, he exceeded 20.5 mph on an 83-yard burst against Buffalo.

Hall led all NFL running backs in receptions this past season, making 76 catches for 591 yards and four touchdowns.

"I feel like I did everything I could, just coming off an ACL and still have the coaches believe in me," said Hall.

His teammates believe in him, too.

"Unbelievable, I mean to come back, and I don’t think people understand coming back from an ACL, I came back from one in my career, and it is extremely hard," said defensive tackle Solomon Thomas. "To come back and have 178 rushing yards or whatever he had, and to get 1,000 yards for the season post-ACL with the struggles we have had on this team, unbelievable. I think people need to pay more attention to that and praise him for what he has done this year. I am extremely proud, and so is this entire team.”

Veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian, who started the last three games of the season, sounded equally impressed by the Jets' RB1.

"What can’t he do? The guy is unbelievable. Just when you think he’s bottled up or somebody’s going to bring him to the ground, he slips out of it," said Siemian.