David Bailey Accomplishes Feat No Jets Rookie Has Done Since 1995

The New York Jets beat the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at home and rookie David Bailey was nothing short of amazing. 

Bailey became the first Jets rookie since Hugh Douglas in 1995 to have three sacks in a game and the first in the NFL to do it since James Houston of the Detroit Lions in 2022.  

The Jets beat the Browns by a final score of 17-12. Bailey had three sacks, eight quarterback pressures and seven tackles.

New York selected Bailey with the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Bailey didn't make much noise in the first four games of the season, but he showed in Week 5 against the Browns why the Jets took him with the second pick. 

"I'm not really on social media, so I can't really speak on what was said," Bailey said after the game. The former Texas Tech star said that he huddled with his coaches last week and that they "drew a picture of what I could do better, how I could elevate my game. I just kind of relied on that."

Bailey sacked Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for a six-yard loss in the first quarter and he kept going. Altogether, Bailey was on the field for seven of the Jets' eight sacks.

The Jets improved to 2-3 with the win. For one week, it will quiet all the negative noise surrounding head coach Aaron Glenn's job security.

Entering the game, many fans and pundits called for New York owner Woody Johnson to fire Glenn, who has only five games since taking the job last year. 

Bailey now has five sacks, 17 solo tackles, six tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits in five games. If he continues to play well, the 23-year-old could easily win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. 

Cleveland had a final chance to win the game with 1:41 left and no timeouts, but New York’s defense, as it did all game, stiffened and sealed the win when Will McDonald had a strip-sack of Watson on fourth down and recovered the fumble.

Jets quarterback Geno Smith finished 17-of-30 through the air for 182 yards and one touchdown to WR Garrett Wilson. Smith still hasn't thrown an interception this season after throwing 17 last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. 

The Jets needed this win because they will likely lose next week to the New England Patriots, who are 3-2. 

New York went 0-2 against New England last season. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has seven touchdown passes over his last two games after having just one in the first three games of the season.