New York Jets running back Breece Hall already had the motivation of playing on the final year of his rookie deal in 2025, pushing him to be the star player he wants to be.
Plus, he also knows that Aaron Glenn wants to use himself, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis, as part of a rotation on game day, so Breece wants to show he deserves all the carries.
And now we have former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew and his running back rankings that Breece might take exception to.
Out of all the starting running backs, he has Hall listed at No. 19, below two rookies in Ashton Jeanty (No. 17) and Omarion Hampton (No. 13), and three running backs who performed worse than him in 2024 in Christian McCaffery (No. 8, but we get it), Kenneth Walker (No. 16) and Rhamondre Stevenson (No. 18).
"Hall's efficiency has decreased in each of the past two seasons, in part due to the team's poor quarterback play," Jones-Drew wrote. "Engstrand comes over from Detroit, where the offense was led by a two-headed monster in the backfield; he could apply a similar approach with Hall and dual-threat QB Fields leading the charge.
"That said, Hall could see some of his opportunities go to Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, as new head coach Aaron Glenn says he prefers a three-RB rotation. I believe Hall will remain the lead back in New York -- at least until the end of this season -- but time will tell how the backfield load is divvied up."
Breece Hall New York Jets
New York Jets running back Breece Hall.
© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
So Hall has everything to prove in a contract year, and the worst thing for him is he might not get the volume of carries needed to properly show his value.
That means when he does touch the ball, great things need to happen.
Still, without a 1,000-yard season to his name, we feel like Breece will need that and more to warrant sticking around The Big Apple under Glenn beyond 2025, and we aren't sure if that will be achieved.
But one thing is for sure: Hall isn't short on motivation entering what looks like a career-defining season.