NFL CHAOS: Jets Star Kris Boyd Shot in Manhattan
The 29-year-old cornerback was gunned down outside a Midtown restaurant in a stunning late-night attack that left the NFL shaken and New York police scrambling for answers.
New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd is fighting for his life. Early Sunday morning, he was shot in the abdomen outside a restaurant in Midtown Manhattan and rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition.
What Happened
The NYPD says the shooting occurred around 2:09 a.m. near 156 West 38th Street, in front of the upscale restaurant Sei Less. Emergency responders found a 29-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his abdomen and transported him immediately to Bellevue Hospital.
Law enforcement sources, cited by multiple media outlets, confirmed the victim was Kris Boyd, who joined the Jets earlier this year. According to reports, two shots were fired before a gunman fled the scene in a BMW SUV, followed by a second car, allegedly a Maybach.
Who Is Kris Boyd
Boyd is known for his grit and special teams impact. A former seventh-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019, he later played for the Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans before signing a one-year deal with the Jets in March 2025. This season, however, he was sidelined after a shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve.
At 29, Boyd carries a reputation for resilience. His close friend and former University of Texas teammate Ernest Quander described him as a soldier, through tough times, and he’s doing really well, according to the aforementioned reports.
Reactions Are Pouring In
The Jets issued a sober statement: “We are aware of the situation involving Kris Boyd and will have no further comment at this time.” On social media, teammates and friends flooded in with prayers.
Linebacker Jermaine Johnson, one of Boyd’s peers, posted on X. “Everybody please send prayers to my brother and teammate Kris Boyd Lord, please hold your healing hand over Kris and guide him back to health and safety.”
Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, who played with Boyd in Minnesota, echoed the sentiment, saying, “Lord, place your mighty hand on him, guide every doctor, nurse, and surgeon, give his family strength! Kris is a fighter, and we’re all here for him.”
New York Mayor Eric Adams also weighed in, writing that although shootings in the city have dropped, “we must continue to work to end gun violence. Too many young lives have been tragically altered and cut short by this epidemic.
What the Investigation Looks Like
The NYPD continues to investigate. So far, no arrests have been made, and police say they are reviewing surveillance footage from the area. Sources tell The New York Post that at least two vehicles fled the scene immediately after shots rang out.
Because the shooting occurred in front of a high-profile restaurant, authorities are also probing whether the incident began as a verbal dispute. CBS News reports that a confrontation allegedly escalated into violence
What Comes Next
First, law enforcement needs to identify and arrest the gunman. With surveillance footage and witness accounts, investigators are working to piece together who pulled the trigger and why.
For Boyd, recovery will be long and difficult. Gunshot wounds to the abdomen can be life-threatening and often require multiple surgeries, followed by a challenging rehabilitation. Even with a stable status, there’s no guarantee he will return to full strength.
And for the NFL community, this incident may trigger bigger conversations about player safety off the field. Teams might revisit how they support players when they’re off duty, especially during nightlife outings, and what measures can be taken to reduce risk in public.
