Breece Hall Bio
Breece Maelik Hall, born on May 31, 2001, is an American professional football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and listed at 217 pounds, he has built his reputation as a versatile playmaker capable of impacting the game on the ground and through the air. The Jets selected him in the second round, 36th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft, making him the first running back taken that year. Hall has since become a central figure in the Jets’ offensive plans, recognized for his balance of production and durability.
Early Life and Background
Breece Maelik Hall was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and grew up in Wichita, Kansas, attending Wichita Northwest High School. He comes from a family with a deep football pedigree, and that environment helped shape his early path in the sport. His father, Bernard Hall, played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and later competed in the Arena Football League, while his step-father, Jeff Smith, spent four seasons in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hall’s third cousin, Roger Craig, is a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back who won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s, and his cousin Kenton Keith had a brief NFL stint with the Indianapolis Colts and a longer career in the Canadian Football League.
Hall starred at Wichita Northwest, finishing his junior season with 2,082 rushing yards and 36 total touchdowns on his way to first-team All-Metro and first-team All-State recognition. As a senior, he added 2,127 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, earned first-team All-State honors again, and was named the Wichita Metro Player of the Year. That production quickly made him one of the most sought-after running back recruits in the region.
Path to American Football
Hall’s path to the NFL began at Iowa State, where he joined a program in need of a new lead back after David Montgomery declared for the draft. As a true freshman in 2019, Hall stepped directly into the starting role and delivered 897 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, adding 23 receptions for 252 yards and a receiving score. That debut season brought him second-team All-Big 12 honors and weekly conference recognition as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on two separate occasions.
The 2020 season marked Hall’s national arrival, as he opened his sophomore year with eight straight 100-yard rushing games. He finished the year as the FBS leader in rushing yards with 1,572 on 279 carries, scored 21 rushing touchdowns, and added 23 catches for 180 yards and two receiving scores. He was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Big 12, and became the first unanimous All-American in Iowa State history. After his junior year in 2021, when he added 1,472 rushing yards, 302 receiving yards, and 23 total touchdowns, Hall decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2022 NFL draft.
Breece Hall Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Hall’s college career with the Iowa State Cyclones ran from 2019 through 2021 and was defined by a steady climb toward national recognition. As a freshman, he took over a starting role and provided immediate production, then elevated his profile as a sophomore with one of the most productive rushing seasons in the country. He earned two Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year awards and a pair of All-American honors, including a unanimous selection in 2020, before declaring for the draft a year early.
Across three college seasons, Hall established himself as one of the Big 12’s most complete running backs, contributing both as a rusher and as a receiving threat out of the backfield. By the time he left Iowa State, he was the school’s most decorated running back in recent memory and one of the top prospects at his position heading into the 2022 NFL draft.
New York Jets Rookie Season (2022)
The New York Jets selected Hall in the second round with the 36th overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft, making him the first running back off the board that year. He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens and scored his first professional touchdown a week later on a ten-yard reception from quarterback Joe Flacco against the Cleveland Browns. A 97-yard rushing and 100-yard receiving performance against the Miami Dolphins in Week 5 turned heads across the league and confirmed his dual-threat profile.
By Week 6, Hall was named both FedEx Ground Player of the Week and Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week after rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers. His rookie campaign was cut short in Week 7 against the Denver Broncos, when he tore his ACL and meniscus on a 72-yard rushing performance, and he was placed on injured reserve on October 25, 2022.
New York Jets Return (2023–2024)
Hall returned to the field in 2023 after a long rehabilitation, opening the year on the physically unable to perform list before being activated in mid-August. He answered quickly, opening the season with 127 scrimmage yards and an 83-yard run against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. He added 177 rushing yards and a 72-yard touchdown against the Denver Broncos in Week 5, a 50-yard receiving score against the New York Giants in Week 8, and a 191-yard scrimmage day against the Washington Commanders in Week 16, finishing the year with 994 rushing yards and 591 receiving yards.
The 2024 season brought more balance than explosion, with 209 carries for 876 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, plus 57 receptions for 483 receiving yards and three receiving scores. Hall remained a focal point of the Jets’ offense, highlighted by 169 scrimmage yards against the Buffalo Bills in Week 6 and 141 scrimmage yards the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
New York Jets Prime (2025–Present)
In 2025, Hall’s role expanded into a more complete offensive package, including occasional passing-game contributions. In Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals, he threw a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mason Taylor that proved to be the difference in a 39–38 victory, the Jets’ first win of the season. He added 18 carries for 133 yards and two rushing touchdowns in the same game, finishing the year with 243 carries for 1,065 rushing yards and four touchdowns, plus 36 receptions for 350 yards and a receiving score, with four 100-yard rushing games to his credit.
On March 3, 2026, the Jets placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Hall, and on May 8, 2026, he signed a three-year, $45.75 million contract extension that made him the third-highest-paid running back in the league.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hall combines decisive vision through the line of scrimmage with the contact balance to finish runs after first contact. He is at his best when his offensive line can establish a downhill run game, but he also creates explosive plays on outside zone looks where his acceleration shows up. As a receiver, he is a reliable check-down target and a willing runner of seam routes, which allows the Jets’ offensive staff to feature him on third downs and in two-minute situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hall’s most dramatic moment came in his rookie season opener of 2023 against the Buffalo Bills, when his 83-yard run set the tone for a 22–16 overtime win. He has since posted multiple 150-plus-yard games, including his 177-yard effort against the Denver Broncos in 2023, and he became the third-highest-paid running back in the league with his 2026 contract extension.
Breece Hall Career Wins
Hall’s career wins so far are measured more in individual production and team victories than in championship hardware, given the Jets’ long playoff drought. Through the 2025 season, his most consistent winning contributions have come in AFC East matchups and in road games where his dual-threat ability tilted the run-pass balance for New York.
New York Jets Highlights
Hall’s verified career rushing total stands at 3,398 yards on a 4.5-yard average with 18 rushing touchdowns, paired with 188 receptions for 1,642 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns. His top individual efforts include 178 rushing yards against the New England Patriots in the 2023 finale, 177 against the Denver Broncos earlier that season, and 169 scrimmage yards against the Buffalo Bills in 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NFL, Hall’s most decorated stretch was his sophomore season at Iowa State in 2020, when he led the FBS in rushing yards and scored 21 times on the ground. That year, he also became the first unanimous All-American in Iowa State history, an achievement that placed him alongside the most decorated players in school history.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|
Breece Hall Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hall’s family background reads like a small football tree. His father, Bernard Hall, played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and then in the Arena Football League, while his step-father, Jeff Smith, played in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers across a four-year career. His third cousin, Roger Craig, is a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back who won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers, and his cousin Kenton Keith logged time with the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts before playing six seasons in the Canadian Football League.
Personal Life
Hall’s personal life remains relatively private, and public information about a spouse or children has not been confirmed. He continues to be based with the New York Jets organization as he enters the prime of his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Hall’s 2025 campaign was a strong bounce-back year defined by durability and a growing role in the passing game. He played in all 17 games, carried the ball 243 times for 1,065 yards and four rushing touchdowns, and added 36 receptions for 350 yards and a receiving score, crossing the 100-yard rushing mark in four separate games. The defining moment came in Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals, when his four-yard touchdown pass to Mason Taylor provided the margin in a 39–38 win that gave the Jets their first victory of the season.
As the season progressed, Hall’s role within the offense continued to grow, and his chemistry with the coaching staff was evident in the variety of ways he was used, including designed throws and increased work on third down. He finished the year as the clear lead back and a central piece of the team’s identity moving forward.
Following the season, the Jets placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Hall on March 3, 2026, and then signed him to a three-year, $45.75 million contract extension on May 8, 2026, making him the third-highest-paid running back in the league. The deal set the stage for Hall to enter 2026 as a franchise cornerstone and the focal point of New York’s offensive plans.
