The New York Jets are still adding to their roster amid a dismal first season under head coach Aaron Glenn. With plenty of weaknesses on both sides of the ball, the franchise’s latest move has been to add a quarterback who is familiar with both Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand.
New York Jets are Signing a Former Detroit Lions QB Hendon Hooker
The Jets are extending their league-leading playoff drought to 15 years at 3-11 overall, and their most significant question marks are still at the quarterback position. Justin Fields has had a trying season under center with his new team and was eventually benched by Glenn after Week 11.
Averaging an NFL-worst 147 passing yards a game, the Jets are scrambling to find some stability as well as depth at quarterback. To at least address the depth side of things, the front office added former Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker on Thursday. NFL Insider Jordan Schultz confirmed the Jets’ latest signing over social media.
Hooker is currently signed to the Jets’ practice squad, joining the third NFL team of his career. The 27-year-old was a highly successful college quarterback, particularly at the University of Tennessee, where he was named the 2022 SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
Sources: The #Jets are signing former #Lions QB Hendon Hooker to their practice squad. He worked out for them this morning.
He reunites with Aaron Glenn and Tanner Engstrand. pic.twitter.com/8SswPPwVCr
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 18, 2025
The Detroit Lions selected Hooker in the third round of the 2023 draft, where he appeared in three games and was waived in the summer of 2025. Since then, the Greensboro, North Carolina native was briefly on the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad until early November before joining the Jets.
Despite the bumpy NFL journey so far, Hooker, on paper, still possesses excellent arm strength, accuracy, and decision-making. In addition, the Jets’ new quarterback has already worked with OC Tanner Engstrandt for two years in Detroit, when Engstrandt was the Lions’ passing game coordinator.
Overall, while Hooker likely is not the Jets’ solution under center in the long term, it’s a reasonable move for the franchise to take a flyer on him, considering the options. Rookie QB Brady Cook has started in the team’s last two games, throwing for just one touchdown and five interceptions, casting more doubt on the franchise’s future at this position.
As Hooker looks to continue his NFL career, the Jets will strive to build a culture under Glenn that gives the fan base some hope that brighter days are ahead.
