Andre Cisco keeping focus on bigger Jets picture in safety battle with Dane Belton

Andre Cisco isn’t focused on the ongoing competition at safety. 

Of course, deep down he would love to beat out Dane Belton to get the nod alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick in the Jets’ defensive backfield. 

That, however, isn’t of utmost importance to the veteran defensive back. 

His concern is much simpler. 

“Finding a role within the team is more important than beating somebody out,” Cisco said after the final training camp practice of the summer Tuesday. “We’re all on the same team. I want to solidify a role so I can contribute.”

The Valley Stream native’s first season back with his hometown Jets didn’t go as planned. After starting the first eight games of the season, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Free agency went slowly. He wound up re-signing with the Jets in March and has been battling with Belton to start at one of the safety spots. 

He’s just thrilled to have this chance. 

“I look back to what was just maybe nine months ago: I’m coming off the field, injured off a one-year deal, not sure what my next year is going to look like,” he said. “So for myself, being back in the building, back on the team and in a competition to start in the NFL, I’m not going to lose sight of how grateful I have to be to be in that.” 

For now, the competition has yet to reveal a winner, according to defensive coordinator Brian Duker. He doesn’t see much of a skill set discrepancy between the two. They can play in the box as well as serve in the deep safety role like a center fielder. 

A major key for the Jets secondary this year is taking the ball away, after Gang Green became the first team to fail to record an interception across a full season. That was a big part of Cisco’s game earlier in his career — he had a combined seven interceptions in 2022-23. So it was significant that he came up with an interception in Friday’s preseason game against the Steelers.

“I honestly say for me moving forward, it’s mainly about confidence,” the 26-year-old Cisco said. “Any time you’re doing something, whether it’s tackling, blocking, you have to do it with confidence. There’s two types of confidence. Believing you can do it and seeing yourself do it. Me seeing myself make plays on the field, taking the ball away at a clip I’m used to and I’m familiar with, that’s important for me in my development.” 

Friday night could be important for both Belton and Cisco, the final preseason game to make a statement about who is deserving of the starting nod. Coach Aaron Glenn has declined to reveal his plans for playing time. But if Cisco is out there, he won’t be thinking about the competition.

He just wants to be a contributor and prove to the Jets he can help them improve upon last year’s disastrous season. 

“There’s roles within the team. So there’s certain roles if you prove your value, they’re going to find a way to get you on the field, and that’s from top to bottom,” he said. “To get on the field, you need to prove your value each and every day. You may be a starter now, and you’re not proving your value, that’s when things start to change.”