The 2025 season was a bittersweet homecoming for New York native S Andre Cisco.
The five-year veteran -- who was born in Queens, attended high school on Long Island and played college football at Syracuse -- was signed by the Jets in March after spending four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"I've enjoyed it," he said of his return to the area. "Just coming back to the Northeast, being in the atmosphere of the people and all of those things has been really refreshing for me."
On the field, however, Cisco did not have the season he envisioned. The former third-round draft selection sustained a season-ending pectoral injury during a Week 8 win over Cincinnati and underwent surgery the following week. Prior to the injury, Cisco had played all but 1 defensive snap, and his 41 tackles were the second most on the team through 8 contests.
Cisco, who mentioned he tries "to find a spiritual lesson with everything," said his time spent on the sidelines was no different.
"I feel like I've matured a lot during these last eight to nine weeks," he shared on Jan. 5. "Just being on the sideline and taking some time. I've never been on IR in-season, so that's the most time I missed. It's very unique, obviously, within that."
After missing just five contests during four seasons in Jacksonville, Cisco acknowledged the challenge of watching the team's results unfold without being on the field. But despite missing the final 9 games, the 2025 season served as a valuable learning experience for the newcomer.
"I learned a lot about being on a new team and being considered more of a veteran," he said. "Coming here and being a veteran presence taught me a lot. What guys really need from veteran presences; I was trying to be that most of the year."
Cisco, who is set to become a free agent this offseason, spoke highly of the relationships he built during his first season with the Green & White.
"I really appreciate the year I had here," he said. "Really thankful for AG [HC Aaron Glenn] and Mougey [GM Darren Mougey] and how they do things."
He added: "AG was probably the most transparent I've had as a head coach, in terms of just being honest, but also being uplifting and positive. I think the biggest thing is, he knows what he wants his team to look like. He was able to pinpoint those things easily and just continue to enforce it. And I think things will get turned around."
Part of that turnaround could involve making more plays on the ball. The Jets failed to record an interception during the 2025 season. And Cisco -- who recorded 8 INTs across his four seasons in Jacksonville, including a career-high 4 in 2023 -- said taking the ball away is part of "the brand that I try to carry."
"As a group, we've got to make plays on the ball," he said. "We've also just got to continue to limit explosives. It's cookie cutter to say, but it's really true. If you limit explosives, you win games."
As the Jets focus on these defensive details during the offseason and beyond, Cisco's priority will be on elevating other aspects of his game.
"Maximizing my skill set," he said of his goals for the offseason. "Making plays on the ball has been such a key thing for me that I need to continue to refine other parts of my game, so that I'm available to do everything and every type of job."
