Every NFL player remembers his first game. Regardless of position or draft status, there is no substitute for experiencing an NFL game for the first time. That reality hit home for several members of the New York Jets' rookie class Friday night. The preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not count in the standings, but it represented a major milestone for players who spent years imagining what it would feel like to wear an NFL uniform and compete in front of family and friends. How about that game by the undrafted rookie, Mory Bamba? He told media members that he "can't wait" to call his mom. And how about the No. 2 overall pick, David Bailey? The latter described the experience as something he won't soon forget. "That was my first NFL game," Bailey said. "It's definitely going to be memorable. Obviously, there's going to be no experience like that. Having the fans out there was a lot of fun. Playing with my teammates, getting out in that particular environment was a lot of fun."
Mory Bamba says he "can't wait" to call his mom, who is from Ivory Coast, after his first preseason game: "I've been waiting to talk to her, actually." pic.twitter.com/rQF1mFEUQD — SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 15, 2026
"There's going to be no experience like that" David Bailey talks with @ChelseaSherrod after making his NFL preseason debut tonight: pic.twitter.com/4kP8Sr95bs — SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 15, 2026 Bailey's comments reflected a sentiment shared throughout the rookie class. The game offered more than another step in training camp. It confirmed that the long journey from college football to the NFL had officially reached a new chapter. Head coach Aaron Glenn was very proud of the rookie's efforts.
Aaron Glenn was asked about Mory Bamba's play tonight: "Bamba Island?" 😂 pic.twitter.com/AvVU1yADRh — SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 15, 2026 Wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. expressed a similar feeling after the game. "It felt amazing," Cooper said. "That's just something you always dream of as a kid." Cooper later added that putting on a Jets uniform and playing at MetLife Stadium was "one of the greatest feelings that I've had playing football."
"It felt amazing. That's just something you always dream of as a kid" Omar Cooper Jr. says that putting on the Jets jersey and playing at MetLife Stadium was "one of the greatest feelings that I've had playing football" pic.twitter.com/kRCov79AOe — SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 15, 2026 Those reactions are easy to understand. Most young players spend years envisioning what it would be like to play in the NFL, but imagining the experience and living it are two entirely different things. The Jets helped make the moment even more meaningful. Following the game, rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik revealed that the organization made an effort to bring family members into town for the preseason opener. It allowed many of the rookies to share one of the biggest moments of their football careers with the people who helped them reach it.
Cade Klubnik says that the Jets flew the parents of all of the team's rookies in so they could watch tonight's preseason opener pic.twitter.com/wpmMLkB8So — SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 15, 2026 The performance evaluations and roster battles will continue throughout the preseason. Coaches will study the film, players will focus on improvements, and attention will quickly turn toward the next game. For one night, however, the results mattered less than the experience itself. Bailey, Cooper, Klubnik, and the rest of the Jets' rookie class achieved something they had dreamed about for years. They finally took the field as NFL players, and it's a memory they'll carry long after the preseason comes to an end. This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: David Bailey, Jets' rookies reflect on their first taste of NFL action