Breece Hall has suddenly found himself thrust into trade rumors following comments by New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn that suggest Gang Green will move to a running back-by-committee approach moving forward.
Considering that Hall will be a free agent after the upcoming NFL season, it’s natural that he’d want to prove to teams that he can shoulder a full workload as a bell cow back. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that he was quick to respond to his coach’s comments on social media.
Breece Hall Posts Cryptic Image In Response To New York Jets Trade Rumors
The backfield committee model can work. Glenn saw it firsthand in recent years as the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator, where Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery split carries in a backfield that produced over 2,000 combined rushing yards last season.
Naturally, Glenn’s comments have sparked trade speculation. Hall’s yards per carry have dipped each season — from 5.8 as a rookie to 4.5 to 4.2 last year. The Jets also own the No. 7 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, and there’s talk that the team could consider former Boise State star Ashton Jeanty if he’s available.
However, PFSN’s latest mock draft has Jeanty going one spot ahead of New York to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6.
On his Instagram account, Hall posted a story with a single image in response to the trade rumors surrounding him.
There are a few ways that the post could be interpreted. If you’re being generous, perhaps Hall is just making fun of the rumors, knowing his spot on the Jets is secure for next season.
#JETS STAR RB BREECE HALL JUST POSTED A VERY CRYPTIC MESSAGE…
Hall has recently been a part of heavy trade rumors.
👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/Sq9adxEp3v
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) April 6, 2025
Alternatively, the running back could be surprised to see his name on the trade market, perhaps previously being under the assumption he would be the sure-fire No. 1 running back in New York.
Either way, Hall will have to prove himself in 2025, especially following Glenn’s comments that were reflected in a report from Rich Cimini of ESPN.
“I think, mentally, [Hall] is in a good place, but I would say that we have three running backs on this team that we’re going to utilize as much as possible,” Glenn said at the annual owners’ meetings in Palm Beach, Fla, via ESPN. “They’re all big men, they can run, they’re violent, they’re physical.
“So I think once we get a chance to get the players in and see exactly how they operate, I think every player is going to be happy with the way that we go about this offense, and I think he’s going to be one of them.”
The Iowa State product is arguably the most talented back on the Jets’ roster, but he has yet to post a 1,000-rushing-yard season. Last year, his rushing total dipped to 876 yards, down from 994 in 2023. However, he has 250+ receiving yards in each of the last two seasons.
If Glenn’s plan takes shape, it could mean more snaps for second-year backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. Allen rushed for 334 yards as a rookie, while Davis ran for 174 on an impressive 5.8 yards per carry.
Working in Hall’s favor is his age (he turns 24 at the end of May 2025) and his relatively light NFL workload. The running back has just 512 carries and 664 touches in three seasons with the Jets, though he did handle 800 touches with the Cyclones in the three years that preceded that. He actually led the Big 12 in that category in both 2020 and 2021.
Whether he’s traded or not, Hall has a long way to go to live up to his second-round draft billing. He may find more opportunity elsewhere, but if the Jets hold onto him, Hall will have to prove himself as the cream of the crop if he hopes to strike it rich in free agency.