Breece Hall is trending — and for good reason. The New York Jets running back just signed a brand-new contract extension that locks him in as one of the highest-paid backs in the NFL. After years of injuries, frustrating team circumstances, and a long-running contract standoff, Hall finally has the deal he’s been working toward since he arrived in New York as a second-round pick in 2022.
This article covers everything you need to know about Breece Hall — who he is, where he came from, his career stats, his injury history, his new contract, and what comes next for the Jets’ feature back.
Who Is Breece Hall?
Breece Maelik Hall was born on May 31, 2001, in Omaha, Nebraska, and grew up in Wichita, Kansas. Football runs in his blood — his cousin Roger Craig was the 1988 NFL Offensive Player of the Year with the San Francisco 49ers, and his stepfather, Jeff Smith, played running back for the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Hall attended Wichita Northwestern High School, where he was rated a four-star recruit and ranked as the top running back in the country by 247Sports. He helped his team to a 12-1 record and a runner-up finish in the Kansas Class 5A playoffs, earning Metro Player of the Year honors before heading to Ames, Iowa, to play for Iowa State University.
At 5 feet 11 inches and 217 pounds, Hall combines speed, power, and elite receiving ability — the full package that makes him one of the most dangerous dual-threat backs in the league.
College Career at Iowa State
Hall spent three seasons with the Iowa State Cyclones from 2019 to 2021, and by the time he left, he had rewritten the school’s record books.
Over 36 college games, Hall carried the ball 718 times for 3,941 yards and set the Iowa State all-time rushing record. More impressively, he holds the NCAA record for most consecutive games scoring a touchdown, finding the end zone in 24 straight games — he scored in every single game during both his sophomore and junior seasons.
He recorded 20 career 100-yard rushing performances in college and earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors twice. He was a two-time Consensus All-American (2020, 2021) and was named the Gary Thompson Iowa State Male Athlete of the Year in 2022 before declaring for the NFL Draft after his junior season.
Hall was not just the consensus top running back in his draft class — he was widely considered one of the most physically gifted backs to enter the draft in years.
NFL Draft: The Jets Land Their Guy
Hall was selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 36th overall pick, making him the first running back taken in that draft. The Jets acquired the pick from the New York Giants, moving up to grab him.
He signed a four-year, $9,014,774 rookie contract that included a $3,736,199 signing bonus. As a second-round pick, Hall did not have access to a fifth-year contract option — a detail that would later become significant in his contract negotiations.
Career Stats: Season by Season
| Season | Games | Rushing Attempts | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Receiving TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 (Rookie) | 7 | 80 | 463 | 4 | 19 | 218 | 1 |
| 2023 | 16 | 223 | 994 | 6 | 76 | 591 | 4 |
| 2024 | 17 | 209 | 876 | 8 | 52 | 448 | 2 |
| 2025 | 16 | 243 | 1,065 | 4 | 36 | 350 | 1 |
| Career | 56 | 755 | 3,398 | 22 | 183 | 1,607 | 8 |
Hall’s 2025 season was the best of his NFL career in terms of rushing yards, clearing 1,000 yards on the ground for the first time. Despite playing behind one of the league’s least efficient offenses, he averaged 4.8 yards per carry for his career and accumulated over 1,453 yards from scrimmage per season across the last three full campaigns.
The ACL Injury That Changed Everything
Just as Hall was establishing himself as one of the most electrifying rookies in the NFL, disaster struck. In Week 7 of the 2022 season against the Denver Broncos, Hall tore his left ACL and meniscus and was placed on injured reserve on October 24, 2022, ending his season.
Before the injury, he had been averaging 5.8 yards per carry and was building a legitimate case for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. His 62-yard touchdown run against the Broncos — on which he reached a top speed of 21.87 mph, the fastest by any ball carrier that season — showcased why scouts had been so excited about him.
The ACL and meniscus tear required surgery and an extensive rehabilitation process. He missed the final 11 games of his rookie season and spent the entire offseason working to return. He came back for Week 1 of the 2023 season — roughly 11 months after the injury — and gradually worked his way back to full form.
The ACL injury defined the early chapter of Hall’s career, but his comeback from it defines his character.
Franchise Tag and Contract Standoff (2026)
After Hall finished the final year of his rookie deal at the end of the 2025 season, the Jets faced a decision. Rather than let him hit free agency as an unrestricted free agent, the team applied the non-exclusive franchise tag to Hall in early 2026, locking him in for one more season at $14.293 million.
The non-exclusive franchise tag allowed Hall to negotiate with other teams, with the Jets retaining the right to match any offer or receive two first-round picks as compensation if they chose not to match. It was a move designed to buy the team time to negotiate a long-term deal — but it also created tension.
Reports surfaced in the weeks following the tag that the Jets and Hall were far apart on an extension. Boomer Esiason claimed on WFAN that the Jets had offered Hall a four-year, $60 million deal with $48 million guaranteed — but that report was immediately shot down. SNY’s Connor Hughes confirmed that deal “was never on the table,” and that both sides were working toward an agreement without the specifics ever leaking accurately.
The Jets’ leverage in negotiations also took a hit due to their own roster decisions. Heading into the 2026 offseason, the team did not draft or sign any running backs — leaving Hall as their only proven option in the backfield. They needed him, and Hall knew it.
Breaking: Breece Hall Signs 3-Year, $45.75 Million Extension
The deal is done. On May 9, 2026, the New York Jets and Breece Hall agreed to a three-year, $45.75 million contract extension, per multiple reports including NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Hall himself confirmed the deal on social media.
Here are the key details:
| Detail | Number |
|---|---|
| Contract Length | 3 years |
| Total Value | $45,750,000 |
| Average Annual Value | $15.25 million |
| Guaranteed Money | $29 million |
| Contract Through | 2028 season |
| NFL RB Ranking by AAV | 3rd highest |
The deal makes Hall the third-highest paid running back in the NFL, trailing only Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles ($20.6 million per year) and Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers ($19 million per year). Hall’s $15.25 million average annual value edges out the $15 million per year that had been loosely discussed and exceeds what Kenneth Walker III signed with the Kansas City Chiefs ($14.35 million per year).
With $29 million in guaranteed money, Hall also has meaningful financial security — a key sticking point in many running back contract negotiations across the league.
The extension begins in 2026 and keeps Hall in New York through the 2028 NFL season. Combined with the two remaining years of his current deal, the Jets now have their franchise running back under contract for the foreseeable future.
What the Deal Means for the Jets
The timing of this extension matters. The Jets finished the 2025 season with a disappointing 3-14 record, but the team is entering a new chapter. They acquired veteran quarterback Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason to lead the offense. They also added wide receivers, and their 2026 draft class included new weapons to surround their skill players.
Hall ran for 1,065 yards behind one of the NFL’s weakest offenses in 2025. If the surrounding cast improves — which is the expectation — there is a legitimate argument that Hall could be in contention for the NFL rushing title in 2026.
From a team-building standpoint, keeping Hall locked up gives the Jets an established offensive identity. He is the engine of their ground game and a reliable outlet in the passing game, and at just 24 years old, he enters this new contract in the heart of his athletic prime.
Why Hall Deserved This Contract
The case for paying Hall at this level is strong. Despite playing behind what has been described as one of the worst offenses in the NFL throughout most of his career, Hall has averaged over 1,450 scrimmage yards per full season. His career yards-per-carry average of 4.8 is elite. He is a genuine dual-threat back capable of leading the league in both rushing and receiving production.
He proved in 2025 that he could carry a full feature-back workload — logging 243 carries, the most of his career — when the team lost Braelon Allen to injury and needed him to shoulder the entire offensive load. Rather than breaking down, Hall ran for over 1,000 yards and kept the Jets offense functioning in a difficult season.
At 24, he is young enough that the Jets are signing him at or near his peak. The $15.25 million per year is market-rate for his caliber — and arguably a discount when his receiving ability is factored in.
FAQs
Q: How much did Breece Hall just sign for?
Hall agreed to a three-year, $45.75 million contract extension with the New York Jets on May 9, 2026. The deal averages $15.25 million per year and includes $29 million in guaranteed money.
Q: Is Breece Hall the highest-paid running back in the NFL?
No, but he is the third-highest. Hall’s $15.25 million average annual value trails Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million, Eagles) and Christian McCaffrey ($19 million, 49ers).
Q: How old is Breece Hall?
Breece Hall was born on May 31, 2001, making him 24 years old as of May 2026.
Q: What college did Breece Hall go to?
Hall played three seasons at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, from 2019 to 2021. He is the Cyclones’ all-time leading rusher with 3,941 career yards and holds the NCAA record for most consecutive games scoring a touchdown with 24.
Q: When did Breece Hall tear his ACL?
Hall tore his left ACL and meniscus in Week 7 of the 2022 NFL season against the Denver Broncos. He was placed on injured reserve on October 24, 2022, and missed the final 11 games of his rookie season. He returned for Week 1 of the 2023 season.
Q: How many rushing yards did Breece Hall have in 2025?
Hall ran for 1,065 yards on 243 carries with four touchdowns in 2025, the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his NFL career. He also added 36 receptions for 350 yards and one receiving touchdown.
Q: What does Breece Hall’s new contract pay per year?
His new three-year extension averages $15.25 million per year, which ranks third among all NFL running backs.
Q: How long is Breece Hall under contract with the Jets?
With the new extension agreed in May 2026, Hall is under contract with the New York Jets through the 2028 NFL season.
Q: Was the Jets’ $60 million offer real?
No. Reports claimed the Jets had offered Hall a four-year, $60 million deal, but those reports were denied by sources on both sides of the negotiation. SNY’s Connor Hughes reported that such a deal “was never on the table.”
Q: What is Breece Hall’s career rushing yards total?
Through the 2025 NFL season, Hall has accumulated 3,398 career rushing yards across 56 games. He has also totaled 1,607 receiving yards from the backfield over the same span.