There's no sugarcoating what offensive coordinator Frank Reich inherited. The New York Jets' offense struggled to find consistency throughout the 2025 season, finishing near the bottom of the league in many of the statistics that often define winning football.
Whether it was protecting the quarterback, creating explosive plays through the air or capitalizing on scoring opportunities, the Jets rarely generated the offensive production necessary to compete weekly.
The good news is that Reich wasn't hired to maintain the status quo. He was brought in to fix an offense that has nowhere to go but up, and several key areas stand out as immediate priorities entering the 2026 season.
With that, here is Jets Wire's list of five trends on the Jets offensive
Reich must improve in 2026:
Geno Smith must protect the football
The Jets are hoping Geno Smith can provide stability at quarterback, but protecting the football has to become part of that equation. Smith tied for the NFL lead with 17 interceptions while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, a disappointing campaign that raised questions about whether the veteran can return to the form that helped him produce one of the league's better seasons by a quarterback while with the Seattle Seahawks.
To his credit, Smith wasn't surrounded by much offensive talent in Las Vegas, making it difficult to place all the blame on his shoulders. Reich's challenge will be helping Smith rediscover that earlier version of himself. The Jets don't necessarily need spectacular quarterback play every week, but they do need a veteran capable of limiting costly mistakes while consistently putting the offense in favorable situations.
The passing game has to find the end zone
The numbers through the air simply weren't good enough. The Jets finished with a league-low 15 touchdown passes in 2025, making it far too easy for opposing defenses to crowd the line of scrimmage and focus on slowing Breece Hall.
With Garrett Wilson leading the receiving corps and an intriguing group of young tight ends entering the mix, Reich has more than enough talent to improve that total. Scoring touchdowns instead of settling for field goals will ultimately determine whether this offense takes a meaningful step forward.
Explosive plays must return to the Jets' offense
The Jets didn't just struggle to score through the air. They struggled to generate production altogether. New York averaged an NFL-worst 140.3 passing yards per game while finishing last in yards per attempt at 5.6.
The team's 75.0 passer rating ranked 31st in the league, illustrating just how difficult it became to consistently push the ball downfield. Improving those numbers isn't solely about calling deeper pass plays. Better protection, improved timing and more efficient quarterback play all work together to create explosive opportunities.
The Jets' third-down and red-zone efficiency must improve
Sustaining drives was another major issue. The Jets converted just 34.93 percent of their third-down opportunities, ranking 26th in the NFL, while their 54.55 percent red-zone touchdown rate ranked 31st. Those numbers explain why otherwise promising drives frequently stalled before they produced points.
Reich has built successful offenses by emphasizing situational football, and few areas will deserve more attention than improving execution when possessions matter most.
Keeping the quarterback upright starts up front for the Jets
Quarterback play and offensive line play often go hand in hand. The Jets surrendered 60 sacks last season, tying for the fourth-most in the league and placing constant pressure on the offense. Young tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou combined to allow 21.5 sacks, providing both players with clear opportunities for growth entering their next season.
The responsibility won't fall entirely on the offensive line, however. Reich's play-calling, Smith's decision-making and improved communication in pass protection can all help reduce unnecessary pressure and keep the offense on schedule.
Reich's task isn't simply improving one statistic or fixing one position group. He's responsible for elevating an offense that underperformed in nearly every significant passing category a season ago. If Smith limits turnovers, the offensive line takes a step forward and the Jets become more efficient in critical situations, many of last year's troubling trends could quickly become distant memories.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: 5 trends on offense Jets OC Frank Reich must improve in 2026
