Former Clemson QB Officially Wins NFL Job
By: Gavin Oliver August 31, 2026

A former Clemson quarterback has officially won the New York Jets’ backup quarterback job behind starter Geno Smith.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn named Cade Klubnik the primary backup heading into the team’s Week 1 game against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 13.

Glenn announced the decision Monday, expressing confidence in the rookie fourth-round pick.

“He’s our backup quarterback,” Glenn said, via the Associated Press. “And he’ll do a good job.”

Klubnik put together a solid preseason performance, positioning himself to claim the primary backup role behind Smith. Klubnik played in all three preseason games, completing 21 of 34 passes for 190 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Klubnik had been competing with Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook for the Jets’ QB2 job. New York released Zappe (candidate to return to the practice squad) and waived Brady Cook, leaving Klubnik as the sole backup quarterback on the initial 53-man roster.

“There’s just a confidence in how he operates and what he’s done in practice, what he’s done in the games,” Glenn said of Klubnik, via the AP. “I don’t think anybody ever said there weren’t going to be hiccups. I mean, he’s a rookie, but he’s always learning, he’s a very intelligent guy.

“He’s improved over the course of training camp, and he’ll continue to improve.”

Once considered a potential first-round pick, Klubnik’s draft stock suffered with a disappointing senior season in 2025, and he didn’t come off the board until Day 3 of this year’s NFL Draft. That’s when the Jets traded up to get him, dealing away two fourth-round picks (Nos. 128 and 140) to the Cincinnati Bengals in order to move up 18 spots and grab him in the fourth round with the No. 110 overall pick.

Klubnik spent four years at Clemson from 2022-25, including the last three years as the full-time starting signal caller. During his career, the two-time ACC Championship Game MVP threw for 10,123 yards with 73 touchdowns and 24 interceptions over 49 games (40 starts), while also rushing for 878 yards and 17 touchdowns on 369 rushing attempts.