Jets' Cook believes New York can win Super Bowl: 'It's very realistic'
The views from the top of the Empire State Building inspired Dalvin Cook on Monday: The New York Jets running back wants fans to expect this team to break their 55-year Super Bowl drought.
"I think it's very realistic," Cook told Steve Serby of The New York Post. "Obviously you look at the roster, you look at the people we've added and the things that we already had, just combining that in one, and I think it's something to be excited about. We just gotta go out there and do our part."
The Jets signed Cook to a one-year deal worth up to $8.6 million in mid-August. Cook had interest from other teams but believed the Jets were his best chance at winning the ultimate prize.
"That's why I came," Cook said. "That's why I'm here, to help any way I can to get to where we need to go, and that's holding up the trophy, and that's what we're trying to do," Cook said.
Cook spent the previous six years with the Minnesota Vikings after being selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The 28-year-old made four Pro Bowls during his stint in Minnesota and signed a five-year, $63-million contract extension with the team in 2020.
Minnesota's rushing offense struggled in 2022, ranking 29th in yards per game, which motivated the team to make a change at running back. Cook struggled with a shoulder injury all season but enters the 2023 campaign healthy after undergoing surgery in February.
Jets running back Breece Hall was activated off the PUP list earlier in August and is expected to be ready for Week 1. Hall was off to a hot start in his rookie campaign before suffering a torn ACL in Week 7.
"I think the ceiling is high for him," Cook said. "He's in a great spot of maturing through the injury and coming out being a better player. I've been through that as a young player."
Cook was asked if he and Hall make the best running back duo in the NFL.
"In my eyes, I think so," Cook said.
The Jets open their season on Sept. 11 against the Buffalo Bills.