Jets' Zach Wilson reached out to Hall of Famers during benching

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson looked to some famous figures for advice during his benching this fall. 

As noted by the Jets' official website, Wilson confirmed to reporters Tuesday that he reached out to current Hall of Famers Steve Young and Kurt Warner, along with future Hall of Famer Drew Brees, after head coach Robert Saleh temporarily relegated last year's second-overall pick to third on the depth chart.

"The biggest thing was there’s going to be these ups and downs in football and you always have to believe in yourself and rely on your support system and just understand that this is all just part of the process," Wilson said about what he learned from conversations with those retired signal-callers. "Some of the biggest things I took from it was where you want to get, this is just going to help you get there faster — the bumps, the ups and downs, it’s tough, but eventually you’re able to make your way through it. Along the way, you’re able to learn a lot of really good lessons, and you’re almost able to be more aware as well." 

Wilson was demoted after he completed just nine of 22 passes for 77 yards in a 10-3 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 11 and then declined to say during his post-game media obligation that he and the offense "let the defense down" that afternoon. Mike White went 1-2 in his three starts as Wilson's replacement but played well enough to earn the trust of teammates and fans until he was medically benched due to rib fractures. 

Wilson connected on 18-of-35 passes for 317 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in this past Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Detroit Lions that dropped the Jets to 7-7 on the season. The 23-year-old has since been criticized for his performance by multiple media personalities. 

"I think it’s something I prepared for my entire life and coming here to New York, you hear about the media and the fanbase," Wilson said Tuesday about such takes. "It’s just a lot of passionate people out here. For us, it’s controlling what we can, keep trying to improve and just understand this is all a part of the process." 

With White essentially sidelined until further notice, Wilson will start the biggest game of his pro career, to date, for the second time in less than a full week when the Jets host the 6-8 Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night. New York trails the 7-7 Patriots (head-to-head tiebreaker), the 8-6 Miami Dolphins and the 8-6 Los Angeles Chargers in the conference standings as the four clubs battle it out over a pair of playoff berths.