LI's Andre Cisco ready for redemption after injury-shortened first season with Jets

Andre Cisco plans to make the most of his second chance with the Jets.

The Valley Stream product wasn’t sure he would get one after his first season was cut short by injury. Cisco only signed a one-year deal in 2025, so he believed he would be playing safety for another team this season.

When Jets head coach Aaron Glenn told Cisco he wanted to bring him back, the sixth-year pro jumped at the chance to return — on another one-year contract. Cisco felt he had unfinished business with the team that he was a fan of growing up on Long Island.

“That’s actually one of the first words that came to mind, because coming into the situation, I had really high hopes,” Cisco told Newsday. “I always was optimistic, even after signing a one-year deal, that I had an opportunity to stay here — if I handle business the right way. Didn't handle business the right way, so I wasn't sure that I’d have an opportunity.

“Once it was presented, like my mind had always been from the moment I signed here that I want to stay. So I didn’t need much convincing from that standpoint.”

Cisco was asked to elaborate on him not handling business.

“I didn’t stay healthy; I didn't play to the standard I want to play to; I didn't help us stack wins and take the ball away,” Cisco said. “All the things that I kind of pride myself on.”

Cisco, 26, spent his first four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, recording eight interceptions, 24 passes defended and three forced fumbles.

In eight games with the Jets last season, he had 41 tackles and one pass defended. Cisco also registered the Jets’ first takeaway, recovering a fumble in Week 7 against Denver. The defense had only three turnovers all year and no interceptions. Cisco suffered a season-ending torn pectoral muscle in Week 8 in Cincinnati.

Cisco, who went to St. Anthony’s High School for two years before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, had never missed significant time in the NFL. He said he worked with the Jets’ training staff, but he also used the time to “get my house in order” and focus on coming back better physically and mentally.

“Coming out of it a better man, better person, and overall being able to be back on the field, as long as you kind of are able to have those good takeaways [that’s important],” Cisco said. “Every year comes with different hardships. Obviously, you want it to show up in a win column, and it feels like you get rewarded for the pain, but last year was just one of those years, you just got to keep your head down and learn from it.

“Being back with the crew feels like that last year wasn't in vain. We get to kind of talk through, let's not make some of the same mistakes.”

Cisco signed for $2.5 million this season, half of it is guaranteed. He returns to a defense that has undergone many changes.

In the safety room alone, the Jets added perennial Pro Bowler Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dane Belton and drafted VJ Payne. Glenn, who is now the defensive play-caller, said Cisco will compete for a starting position.

“We thought highly of him when we signed him last year,” Glenn said. “We think he's a guy that can come and compete and play for us. Obviously, he has good range, he has good ball skills. I know in Jacksonville, things didn't go the way he wanted. We still believe in him. We're looking forward to him going out and competing and trying to earn a starting job.”

Cisco has every intention to prove Glenn right for believing in him.

“From a leadership standpoint, just continue to be a model of what I've heard AG preach over the last year,” Cisco said. “He's big on having his guys here, his type of guys. So for them to willingly bring me back shows that they trust me to do some of that in the locker room. From a play standpoint, there's a long list of things I need to work on. But a long list of things that I'm confident that I also already bring to the defense.

“I couldn't be happier to be back.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.