The New York Jets had a disappointing season in 2021 under rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, going 4-13 on the year.
The Jets did, however, bring us one of the most unexpected performances in all of 2021. And it came from unlikely backup quarterback Mike White.
White stepped in for an injured Wilson in Week 7, throwing for a whopping 405 yards and three touchdowns in a shocking upset victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, the eventual Super Bowl runner-ups.
This game certainly got Jets’ fans attention and made White a fanfavorite on the team. His time as starting quarterback was short-lived, however, as he was benched after an awful performance where he threw four interceptions against the Buffalo Bills in Week 9.
But the Jets’ fans who like White can now rejoice, as Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk wrote Tuesday that he’s signed a restricted free agent tender with the team. This means that any team wanting to sign White will need to give up a fifth-round pick for him.
That likely means that White will return to the team for training camp and compete for the backup quarterback job next season with veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who the team also decided to bring back this offseason.
It may be difficult for White to remain on the roster unless the Jets decide to hold three quarterbacks on their roster in 2021, given Flacco’s track record. But Jets’ fans can likely hold on to the dream of Mike White becoming a star for the team a little longer.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.