NEW YORK — Following the 2025 NFL draft, in which the Jets did not select a quarterback, general manager Darren Mougey was asked about the status of Jordan Travis.
Mougey said he wouldn’t speak publicly on any players who had medical issues coming into the season.
Less than a week later, the 24-year-old quarterback has informed the Jets that he has decided to retire.
“On November 18, 2023, my life took an unexpected turn,” Travis said in a statement released by the Jets. “I gave everything I had to the rehab process but despite all my efforts, my leg never responded the way we hoped. After much prayer and consultation with the doctors, medical experts and my agent, I’ve been medically advised to retire from the game I love so deeply.”
A year ago, the Jets selected Travis in the fifth round (No. 171 overall) out of Florida State, knowing he was coming off a serious injury.
“Jordan has informed us of his intent to retire due to the injury he sustained while at Florida State,” Mougey said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that he was unable to get back on the field after working so hard. We support his decision and wish him only the best.”
During his final home game at Florida State, Travis suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle playing against North Alabama. He underwent surgery and missed the rest of the season.
Before his ankle injury, Travis was in the Heisman Trophy conversation with 2,756 passing yards, 20 touchdowns against just two interceptions. He finished fifth.
He was also projected to be a Day 2 selection in the 2024 NFL draft after helping the Seminoles win the ACC in 2023 and ending the regular season with an undefeated record. Travis’ injury ultimately led the college football selection committee to keep an undefeated Florida State out of the four-team playoff field in 2023, in favor of one-loss SEC champion Alabama for the fourth and final seed.
After not participating in OTAs and mandatory minicamp last year, then general manager Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh were confident that Travis would be cleared for training camp last July. However, that was never the case, and Travis was placed on the non-football injury list and then later the reserve/non-football list, missing the entire 2024 season.
The Jets initially drafted Travis so he could sit and observe Aaron Rodgers, potentially becoming the Jets’ franchise quarterback down the line. But Douglas and Saleh were both fired amid a 5-12 season.
Since Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn were hired by the Jets in January, they have been mum about Travis’ status.
“To my teammates, thank you for pushing me, supporting me, and becoming family,” Travis said in a statement released on X/Twitter. “I am forever grateful for the locker room memories + brotherhood we built.
“To the entire New York Jets organization, thank you for believing in me and providing me with the opportunity to live out the ultimate dream.”
After the Jets released Rodgers in March, Justin Fields signed a two-year, $40 million contract ($30 million guaranteed) with the team. Behind Fields, the Jets have Tyrod Taylor and Adrian Martinez, and they recently agreed to terms with Brady Cook, an undrafted free agent out of Missouri.
Following the 2025 NFL Draft, in which the Jets did not select a quarterback, general manager Darren Mougey was asked about the status of Jordan Travis.
Mougey said he wouldn’t speak publicly on any players who had medical issues coming into the season.
Less than a week later, the 24-year-old quarterback has informed the Jets that he has decided to retire.
“On November 18, 2023, my life took an unexpected turn,” Travis said in a statement released by the Jets. “I gave everything I had to the rehab process but despite all my efforts, my leg never responded the way we hoped. After much prayer and consultation with the doctors, medical experts and my agent, I’ve been medically advised to retire from the game I love so deeply.”
A year ago, the Jets selected Travis in the fifth round (No. 171 overall) out of Florida State, knowing he was coming off a serious injury.
“Jordan has informed us of his intent to retire due to the injury he sustained while at Florida State,” Mougey said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that he was unable to get back on the field after working so hard. We support his decision and wish him only the best.”
During his final home game at Florida State, Travis suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle playing against North Alabama. He underwent surgery and missed the rest of the season.
Before his ankle injury, Travis was in the Heisman Trophy conversation with 2,756 passing yards, 20 touchdowns against just two interceptions. He finished fifth.
He was also projected to be a Day 2 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft after helping the Seminoles win the ACC in 2023 and ending the regular season with an undefeated record. Travis’ injury ultimately led the college football selection committee to keep an undefeated Florida State out of the four-team playoff field in 2023, in favor of one-loss SEC champion Alabama for the fourth and final seed.
After not participating in OTAs and mandatory minicamp last year, then general manager Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh were confident that Travis would be cleared for training camp last July. However, that was never the case, and Travis was placed on the non-football injury list and then later the reserve/non-football list, missing the entire 2024 season.
The Jets initially drafted Travis so he could sit and observe Aaron Rodgers, potentially becoming the Jets’ franchise quarterback down the line. But Douglas and Saleh were both fired amid a 5-12 season.
Since Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn were hired by the Jets in January, they have been mum about Travis’ status.
“To my teammates, thank you for pushing me, supporting me, and becoming family,” Travis said in a statement released on X/Twitter. “I am forever grateful for the locker room memories + brotherhood we built.
“To the entire New York Jets organization, thank you for believing in me and providing me with the opportunity to live out the ultimate dream.”
After the Jets released Rodgers in March, Justin Fields signed a two-year, $40 million contract ($30 million guaranteed) with the team. Behind Fields, the Jets have Tyrod Taylor and Adrian Martinez, and they recently agreed to terms with Brady Cook, an undrafted free agent out of Missouri.
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