Two years ago, Jets running back Breece Hall watched from the sidelines as his team lost the last six games of the season, effectively ending their playoff hopes. Hall had torn his ACL midway through his sixth game as a rookie, a time when it became clear he was a rising star and that the offense struggled without him.
The year 2022 was incredibly tough for Hall, making his comments on Sunday even more striking after he fumbled twice (losing one) in the Jets’ heartbreaking 26-21 loss to the Seahawks.
“This has probably been the most challenging year of my life,” Hall stated. “I felt like I lost us the game, and that’s never a good feeling, especially for someone as competitive as I am. … If I can’t take care of the ball, I shouldn’t be in the game.”
Hall’s sudden issues with ball security have been one of the most surprising aspects of this frustrating Jets season. At Iowa State, he was known for his reliability, having lost just three fumbles in 800 touches over three seasons. This trend continued during his first two years with the Jets, where he only fumbled three times in 24 games, with just one lost fumble.
This year has been a stark contrast for Hall, who has fumbled six times in 12 games, with two of those fumbles leading to turnovers for the opposing team. The issue is worsening, as he has fumbled four times in the last five games, including Sunday’s match, where he had multiple fumbles for the first time in a single game.
Despite this, Hall remains productive, ranking 10th in the NFL with 1,093 yards from scrimmage. However, he acknowledges the fumbles and their effect on his mental state.
“In the last five or six weeks, I haven’t played well enough,” Hall admitted. “I haven’t been true to myself or my expectations. It’s easy to start losing confidence. I hope my coaches and teammates still believe in me, but I understand why they might not. I just need to keep my head down, work hard, and hopefully get out of this slump. This year has definitely been the toughest of my life.”
In the first quarter, Hall fumbled the ball inside the Seattle 30-yard line on second down, but left guard John Simpson recovered it, allowing the Jets to score and take a 14-0 lead after Hall’s two-point conversion. However, the situation changed dramatically in the third quarter when Hall fumbled again while the Jets were driving toward a potential score, still leading 21-16 but struggling offensively.
After gaining 11 yards to reach midfield on a first-and-15, Hall was looking to add more yardage when Seahawks safety Julian Love struck, knocking the ball loose. “I was trying to finish the run, but I didn’t secure the ball tightly enough,” Hall reflected. “The defender made a great play, and it’s disappointing. I feel like I cost us the game, and it’s been a long season.”
While Hall’s performance—12 carries for 60 yards—wasn’t the sole reason for the Jets’ loss, the turnover was damaging as the Seahawks converted it into a field goal, closing the score to 21-19 before taking the lead later in the fourth quarter. After scoring two touchdowns early, the Jets went 46 minutes without any offensive points.
“It’s frustrating,” Hall said. “It’s a real blow to my confidence. I hate letting my teammates down.”
Strongly affected by the loss, Hall sat alone on the bench for several minutes after the game, visibly distraught. He remained in full uniform at his locker long after most teammates had left.
“I feel like God has a purpose for this challenge,” Hall shared. “I don’t see it now, but someday I hope to understand why I went through this, just like when I tore my ACL. Those trials had their reasons.”
Despite the playoff hopes being dashed, Hall emphasized that winning remains the focus for the final five games. He also admitted he needs to work on regaining the mindset of being one of the NFL’s top running backs.
“Winning and playing well are my priorities. I need to rebuild my confidence. It feels like I make progress only to be pushed back, so I’ll just keep playing,” Hall stated.
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