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Garrett Wilson Comments on Career First With Jets After $130 Million Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Valdez | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 9:06 PM ET

The New York Jets have rarely retained their homegrown stars throughout their tortured history. However, that changed this past offseason.

The Jets re-signed star wide receiver Garrett Wilson and two-time first-team All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to four-year deals, worth $130 million for Wilson and $120.4 million for Gardner. Both deals run through 2030, when they'll be in their late 20s.

Wilson is New York's only big-name receiver left after the team released six-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams in March. The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year now gets to reunite with former Ohio State teammate Justin Fields after working with a combination of Zach Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, and several backups over the last three seasons.

Additionally, the Jets recently gave Wilson an honor he had never received in the NFL before, via their social media.

New York named Wilson a team captain for the first time on August 28.

"I've had some accolades since I got in the league, but this is the one I'll probably tell my kids about first," the 25-year-old said Thursday. “That just comes from the last three years here. I’m not the most outspoken guy, I’m maybe not the blueprint of the leader when it comes to a captain. But to know the guys still appreciate the way I go about things and they respond to what I do say, it means the world.”

"I've had some accolades since I got in the league, but this is the one I'll probably tell my kids about first"

Garrett Wilson on being named captain for the first time in his NFL career pic.twitter.com/2KLmktVGn5
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 4, 2025

Garrett Wilson Must Carry Jets' Passing Offense

It's no secret that New York will be a run-first team this season. Fields is at his best when he uses his legs, and the team has 2022 second-round pick Breece Hall as well as second-year backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis to round out its rushing attack.

However, the Jets will have to air the ball out when they're down by multiple scores, and that's when Wilson comes in. The 6-foot, 183-pounder is their only player with a 1,000-yard receiving season to his name, so the defense will key in on him in those situations.

Luckily, Fields can take pressure off of Wilson by scrambling. The 26-year-old's mobility is his calling card, as he averages six yards a carry in 418 career attempts.

Up next for New York is its Week 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Fields will be facing his team from last season, while Rodgers will be playing his team from the previous two campaigns.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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