Demario Davis opens up why Jets brought him back

Over the past few years, the leadership on the New York Jets has been as steady as a one-foot ladder during an earthquake. The Jets have repeatedly brought in veterans to impact the culture, but nothing has changed.

This offseason, the team signed a familiar face: Demario Davis. He was drafted by New York in the third round in 2012 and stayed until 2015. After one season with the Cleveland Browns, he returned to the Jets for one year. Afterward, he played for the New Orleans Saints from 2018 to 2025.

Now in his third stint with the Jets, armed with more experience and wisdom, Davis said he knows exactly why the Jets acquired him, as reported by NFL.com’s Kevin Patra.

“When I look at what Woody (Johnson) and Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn are establishing, why they’re bringing me in is to model what they want that culture to look like,” said the 37-year-old linebacker.

“When I say leadership, it’s not a title—it’s modeling. What does your lifestyle represent? Because more is caught than taught. So it’s not that people are looking for me to come in and have all the right words. How can I be the example of what winning culture looks like? It’s the way that I attack the weight room, it’s the way that I study film, it’s the way that I take care of my body.”

The five-time All-Pro will play a pivotal role for Glenn, and he is far from done. Last season, he tallied a career-high 143 combined tackles. He also had three passes defended and two forced fumbles.

Many have come before him, tasked with changing the culture on the Jets. Yet they failed. The squad has missed the playoffs for 15 straight years, the longest active drought in the NFL, the NBA, the MLB, and the NHL.

Davis is optimistic that he can make an impact, and self-belief is imperative in leadership.