Ex-Detroit Lions Quarterback Signs With Aaron Glenn’s New York Jets
Former Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker has landed a new opportunity in the NFL — and it comes with a familiar connection.
Hooker has signed with the New York Jets practice squad, providing depth to a quarterback room dealing with multiple injuries. The move also reunites Hooker with Aaron Glenn, the former Lions defensive coordinator who now plays a key leadership role with the Jets.
After leaving Detroit, Hooker has bounced around the league, but the situation in New York could give him a realistic path toward playing time on a struggling Jets roster.
Jets Continue Adding Former Lions Quarterbacks
Hooker is not the first former Lions quarterback the Jets have turned to this season.
Earlier, New York signed Adrian Martinez, who spent time with Detroit during the 2023 offseason before being released. Martinez later revived his career in the UFL, earning All-UFL honors. He was elevated from the Jets’ practice squad in Week 15 to back up Brady Quinn after injuries sidelined Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields.
However, Martinez was released earlier this week, creating another opening in the Jets’ quarterback room — one Hooker now fills.
Glenn explained the reasoning behind the signing, emphasizing preparedness and Hooker’s upside.
“We always want to make sure that we are prepared,” Glenn said. “Same thing when we brought Adrian [Martinez] in last week. Even if both quarterbacks didn’t have a chance of making it, we still wanted someone ready. Plus, he is a good player. I had him in Detroit. When you watch him, look at his stats and the way he throws the ball — he’s a talent. Our goal is to develop that talent.”
Hendon Hooker’s Path From Detroit to New York
Hooker entered the NFL as one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft after winning SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors at Tennessee.
His rookie season with the Lions was largely a redshirt year, as he continued recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college. In his second season, Hooker served as the primary backup to Jared Goff, but his role diminished late in the year when Detroit opted to bring in veteran Teddy Bridgewater.
Now with the Jets, Hooker gets another chance to prove himself as he works to establish a foothold in a crowded but unsettled quarterback situation.
Detroit Lions Face Slim Playoff Hopes
Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions remain in a tight playoff race with little margin for error.
Detroit likely needs to win all three remaining games to keep postseason hopes alive. While the Lions have shown resilience — avoiding back-to-back losses for more than three years — quarterback Jared Goff acknowledged that consistency remains an issue.
“If we want to stop getting that question, we got to start stringing some together,” Goff said. “We got to bounce back this week and then keep it going.”
The Lions begin their critical stretch against the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by former division rival Aaron Rodgers, before closing the season against NFC North foes Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. With the right help, Detroit still has an outside shot at a third straight division title.
