Jets' Brady Cook Reflects On First-career Start, Td Pass: 'a Moment I Won't Forget'

There wasn't much of a window for the Jets to celebrate moments in Sunday's blowout road loss to the Jaguars, but their undrafted rookie quarterback managed to raise a few smiles.

Making his first NFL start, Brady Cook completed 22 of 33 passes for 176 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. He also rushed for 39 yards on six carries.

The lone touchdown pass from Cook -- forced to fill in for the injured Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields -- was his very first as a pro. Late in the first quarter, he connected with a wide-open Adonai Mitchell up the seam for an easy nine-yard score, and the ball was gifted to Cook's family in attendance.

"Incredible moment. It was a play we worked on all week, we got the look we wanted," Cook said after the game. "AD ran a great route, got his head around and made a great catch. That's a moment I won't forget... It was a blast [starting], it's fun. It's the game I love, and it was an honor to take the field as a Jet."

While the Jets expressed excitement with Cook's development weeks ago and hinted at the possibility of the Missouri product receiving some game action toward the end of the season, nobody in their building could've anticipated the quarterback scenario that unfolded.

By necessity, Cook became the first undrafted rookie to start a game for the Jets since 1973. 

He was thrown into the fire midway through the first quarter of last week's loss to the Dolphins, when Taylor went down with a groin injury. He completed 14 of 30 passes for 163 yards on that day, but also threw a pair of red zone interceptions and took six sacks.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was pleased by the plays Cook strung together, and even admitted that there's some value in seeing how a young quarterback handles adversity and unexpected opportunity. 

Cook has also earned the respect of his teammates. Isaiah Williams, who would've produced his third punt-return touchdown of the season if not for a questionable penalty, admired Cook's on-field composure and leadership.

"He made some key passes. I told him, 'Bro, I love you. Just keep growing from this, because, bro, you've got it,'" Williams said. "One thing I love about him is, there's no quit in that dude. He's got that fire. Every time he gets in that huddle, everybody believes him... He's a dog, and that's what I appreciate and adore about him."

If the Jets are inclined -- or required -- to start Cook again next Sunday, he'll face a Saints defense that entered Week 15 holding opponents to 24.2 points and 313.5 yards on average.

LET BRADY COOK.

His first NFL touchdown pass goes to AD Mitchell ???? pic.twitter.com/kg6UELhhHF

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) December 14, 2025