New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Jets HC Robert Saleh had one problem with CB's '85 Bears prediction

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 9/7/23

Head coach Robert Saleh told reporters Thursday that he had one problem with cornerback D.J. Reed's recent comments, comparing the New York Jets defense to that of the 1985 Chicago Bears.

While Saleh first said that he thought Reed's recent words were taken out of context, he added "one thing that (he) would tell D.J. not to do" is compare yourself with another group.

Saleh was asked essentially the same question that was posed to D.J. Reed: What's the potential of the defense? Saleh's reply:

"It's sky's the limit, right? But I'm not saying anything anyone else wouldn't say. I'm not one to compare. I think when you compare yourself to… https://t.co/mcZC974S8K
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) September 7, 2023

The 26-year-old told media members during a Zoom call on Monday that the 2023 Jets defense can be "historical like the '85 Bears."

Reed is one half of New York's talented starting cornerback tandem, lining up opposite AP Rookie of the Year Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner. The Kansas State product played every one of the team's 1,136 defensive snaps last season, while finishing with career highs in combined tackles (80) and passes defended (12) during his first year with Gang Green.

Reed's tackle total ranked fourth on the Jets in 2022 and his dozen passes defended placed him second only behind Gardner.

With All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and five-time Pro Bowl linebacker C.J. Mosley among the other studs on New York's defense, Reed's confidence in the unit is fair.

The Jets had the NFL's fourth-ranked defense last year and return eight of their 11 starters.

Led by Hall of Famers David Hampton, Mike Singletary and Richard Dent, Chicago's defense in 1985 is widely considered to be the best in league history. The group allowed a stunning 12.4 points per game across the regular season and didn't surrender any points in the playoffs until their Super Bowl XX victory over the New England Patriots, which was a 46-10 laugher.

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