One of the longest-tenured running backs in Jets history, Bilal Powell was back at team headquarters Tuesday. The nine-year veteran announced his retirement.
Powell played nine NFL seasons — all with the Jets — and finished his career eighth on the team’s all-time rushing list (3,675 yards). Also effective out of the backfield, Powell trails only Curtis Martin and Freeman McNeil among Jets running backs in career receptions (211). Powell worked out for the Chargers early in the 2020 season but has not played since his Jets finale in 2019.
The Jets took Powell in the 2011 fourth round out of Louisville. He began to carve out a key role in their offense in 2012 and totaled 969 scrimmage yards in 2013. As players like LaDainian Tomlinson, Shonn Greene, Chris Ivory and Matt Forte passed through, Powell’s passing-down role remained relatively unchanged. Powell’s best seasons came in his late 20s, when he totaled 2,052 scrimmage yards between the 2016 and ’17 slates.
Gang Green re-signed Powell on four occasions, the most notable a three-year deal worth $11.25MM in 2016. The last of those deals came in 2019, after Powell came back from a serious neck injury to play in 13 games for the ’19 Jets squad.
Cheers! Great career and cool to do it all w/ 1 team. Enjoy retirement.
Somewhat ironic that a player at such a volatile position on a roster with mass turnover managed to stay with the same team for nearly a decade
He was a solid all-around pro who you could rely on. And that’s a good legacy to leave.
A career to be proud of. I hope jets fans treat him right whenever he shows up for events.
A real good Jet- enjoyed watching him play
I would love to have him over for dinner if just to hear the amusing anecdotes he must have on Geno, Tebow and Mr. Butt Fumble.