Will Howard’s two early interceptions punctuate Steelers’ preseason meeting with interception-resistant Jets

The Steelers and Jets met in the preseason with a striking contrast in recent history, and it showed up quickly. New Pittsburgh quarterback Will Howard threw two interceptions in the first half, an outcome that immediately changed the rhythm of the game and gave New York’s defense early momentum.

The context matters because the Jets’ standard for ball production in 2025 was historic. According to the report, New York became the first team in NFL history to play a full season without recording an interception, finishing that year without a single interception. The article also notes the Jets were the first to reach that mark since interception statistics were officially tracked beginning in 1933.

That kind of drought creates a storyline any time an opponent is able to turn even a limited preseason look into takeaway opportunities. Howard’s two picks in the first half did exactly that, placing the Steelers in a position to swing field position and timing. Even in exhibition football, early turnovers can shape how both teams manage play-calling, substitutions, and the quarterback rotation.

New York’s interception reputation is tied to personnel and coaching as much as scheme. The report places the Jets’ 2025 turnaround under head coach Aaron Glenn, identified as a former Jets cornerback who accumulated 41 interceptions during his NFL playing career. With Glenn now leading the organization, the Jets’ defensive identity has been framed around making stops without giving opponents easy chances at takeaways.

For Pittsburgh, the preseason is often less about final results and more about evaluating quarterback decisions and command under live-game stress. Howard’s two interceptions are the kind of data point coaches can use immediately, especially when they come in the first half. Decision-making, eyes up and downfield, and understanding coverage leverage are all things that tend to surface quickly when a quarterback is throwing against second-unit and third-unit looks that may not match every starter-to-starter expectation.

Still, it is important not to overread a single preseason outing against an interceptionless baseline that spans an entire regular season. Preseason defenses rotate heavily, game plans are simplified, and quarterbacks are judged as much on process as on outcomes. The Jets’ ability to keep their interception total at zero in 2025 suggests an organizational baseline of ball discipline, but preseason turnover rates can be volatile, particularly when quarterbacks are working with limited reps.

What to watch next is whether Pittsburgh’s other quarterbacks can protect the ball and whether New York’s defense can avoid the kind of ball-trajectory mistakes that produced Howard’s interceptions. The broader subplot is whether the Jets’ 2025 interception trend was a product of sustainable defensive quality or simply a year-long confluence of execution, opponent tendencies, and chance. Either way, this first-half takeaway burst is a reminder that even the most interception-averse teams can be tested early in preseason football.