CB D.J. Reed boasts Jets' defense can be 'historical' in 2023 - ESPN

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The 1985 Chicago Bears, the 2013 Seattle Seahawks and… the 2023 New York Jets? When it comes to great defenses, Jets cornerback D.J. Reed believes his unit is good enough to be mentioned among the best in NFL history.

«I'm very confident,» Reed said Monday on a Zoom call with reporters. «I think we have the potential to be the best defense in the NFL. Honestly, I think we can be historical, not just the best defense in the league, but I think we can be a historical defense like the '85-'86 Bears and the LOB (Seahawks' Legion of Boom) in 2013. I think we can be that dominant if we just put all the things together ...»

That's quite a bold statement, a quote that figures to find its way into the Buffalo Bills' locker room. The Jets face the Bills — the No. 2 scoring offense in 2022 — on «Monday Night Football» in their season opener.

The Jets' defense is returning eight starters from a unit that ranked No. 4 in scoring and No. 4 in yards allowed, so it's not a stretch to think they can compete for the top spot. But Reed took it a big step further, invoking the '85 Bears and '13 Seahawks, both of which re-defined defense in their respective eras. Both teams wound up winning the Super Bowl.

Reed is bullish on the defense because he believes they have the best defensive coordinator in Jeff Ulbrich and a smart, seasoned group, especially in the secondary. There's also the talent — three Pro Bowl players in defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, linebacker C.J. Mosley and cornerback Sauce Gardner.

«S---, why not speak your goals?» said defensive end John Franklin-Myers, backing up Reed's claim. «We're not afraid to sit here and go out on a limb and say we want to win the Super Bowl, or we want to be the best