Jets sign Breece Hall to $45 million extension

The Jets and Breece Hall agreed to a contract extension Friday that will have him avoid playing on the franchise tag in 2026.

Hall and the Jets agreed on a three-year, $45.75 million contract with $29 million guaranteed, a source confirmed.

Hall becomes the third-highest-paid running back by annual money, behind the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million) and the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey ($19 million). 

“Cried for the first time since I tore my ACL. This day really hit different for me man,” Hall posted on X.

The deal does not include any guaranteed money in the third year of the contract, so it is essentially a two-year, $29 million deal, according to a source. 

The Jets got ahead of a running back market that is expected to rise in the coming months with Bijan Robinson of the Falcons and Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions eligible for extensions. 

The two sides had until July 15 to reach a long-term agreement or Hall would have played this season on the $14.3 million franchise tag.

The new guarantee is slightly more than two franchise tags.

The Jets and Hall had productive conversations before the tag deadline in March but could not reach a deal.

There was optimism that it would get done and both sides agreed to shelve talks until after the NFL Draft.

Jets general manager Darren Mougey and Hall’s agent, Nicole Lynn, resumed talks earlier this week and it did not take long to reach a deal.

Getting it done now avoids a summer of drama that could have included a standoff before the July 15 deadline.

Cried for the first time since I tore my ACL. This day really hit different for me man🙏🏾🤞🏾

— Breece Hall (@BreeceH) May 8, 2026

If a deal did not get done, there would have been a question of whether Hall would sign the tag and report to training camp; or if he did, would he say he was injured and ride the bike all summer?

Instead, Hall can show up when the team resumes its offseason program Monday and work with new quarterback Geno Smith and new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. 

Hall was drafted in the second round by the Jets in 2022.

He has consistently been one of the team’s top offensive weapons during his first four years.

Hall, who turns 25 later this month, topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time last season.

He gained 1,065 yards on 243 carries and scored four rushing touchdowns.

He also had a receiving touchdown and a passing touchdown. 

There was talk of the Jets trading Hall going back to last year’s draft and then again at the deadline, but the team remained steadfast about holding onto Hall and has locked him up for the near future.

Hall has gained 5,040 yards from scrimmage in his career, which ranks 14th in the NFL over that time.

He missed 10 games in his rookie season after tearing his ACL, making that number even more impressive. 

Hall has endured a lot of losing in his time with the Jets with the team going 22-46 over his four years.

Hall also has had to overcome a lot of instability in the organization.

He has played for three head coaches (Robert Saleh, Jeff Ulbrich and Aaron Glenn) and four offensive play-callers (Mike LaFleur, Nathaniel Hackett, Todd Downing and Tanner Engstrand). 

Then, there has been the quarterback situation.

It seems like every year the Jets talk about getting Hall more involved in the passing game but they have struggled to do so consistently because of the revolving door at quarterback.

Joe Flacco, Zach Wilson, Mike White, Aaron Rodgers, Tim Boyle, Trevor Siemian, Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook have all started games since Hall joined the Jets. 

The team hopes it has improved the offense with the hiring of Reich as coordinator and the acquisition of Smith to play quarterback.

Hall joins a talented group of weapons on paper in Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper, Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq.