A surprising name turned heads for the New York Jets in their preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers.
Veteran defensive tackle Jay Tufele entered the chat on Saturday, August 9.
Tufele, 26, finished the day with 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery for a defensive touchdown.
“Alright Jay Tufele is the best player I’ve ever seen,” NFL analyst Will Parkinson reacted on social media.
Alright Jay Tufele is the best player I’ve ever seen
— Will Parkinson (@Willpa11) August 10, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Social Media Top Reactions to Tufele Breakout Performance
“I nominate Jay Tufele for the annual Takk McKinley Preseason Standout Award™️,” The Jet Press posted on X previously Twitter.
I nominate Jay Tufele for the annual Takk McKinley Preseason Standout Award™️
— The Jet Press (@TheJetPress) August 10, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
With 7:01 remaining in the second quarter, Packers passer Malik Willis dropped back to pass from his own 8-yard line. Jets defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III strip-sacked him of the ball, and Tufele fell on top of it in the end zone for the defensive score.
After Tufele scored, he ran over to the sideline and handed that ball to head coach Aaron Glenn. He embraced him for a hug after a brief conversation.
Jay Tufele gifts Aaron Glenn the ball after the Jets’ Defensive Touchdown#JetUp 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vkO84z7i2B
— 𝙅𝙀𝙏𝙎 𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙄𝘼🛫 (@NYJets_Media) August 10, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Tufele Was an Overlooked Pickup by the Jets This Offseason
The former USC product entered the NFL as the No. 106 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
He started on the Jacksonville Jaguars, got cut, and then spent the last three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Across his four years in the NFL, Tufele has just half a sack in his career to go along with three tackles for loss. This offseason, he joined the Jets on a one-year $1.17 million contract.
Tufele has no name value, hasn’t done anything at the NFL level, and was a general afterthought when he inked his deal. It’s just one preseason game, but Tufele looks like a hidden gem of this free agency class.
This is a developing story and we’ll provide new details as they become available.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Social Media Explodes After Dominant Performance From Jets Vet appeared first on Heavy Sports.