If you tune in the Detroit Lions-New York Jets game on Sunday there is a very good chance you will see #96, defensive tackle, Jack Heflin on the field. The sixth year pro has done his share of traveling around the NFL, including a stint in the XFL, since he was signed by the Green Bay Packers in 2021 as an undrafted free agent.
Heflin was moved to the Jets’ active roster this week after being signed to the practice squad this summer. Due to injuries among several starters, Heflin was elevated to the 53-man roster.
The former EP Panther has been on a football field every season since leaving high school. He walked on at Northern Illinois University and eventually was put on full scholarship. Before his senior season he went into the transfer portal and was picked up by Iowa.
After making the Packer roster in ’21, he was placed on the practice squad the following year. In December of 2022 he was released and picked up by the New York Giants before being released near the end of the season.
In January of 2023, Heflin signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL where he earned All-XFL honors.
In May 2023, Heflin signed with the New Orleans Saints eventually being assigned to the team’s practice squad.
He was released by the Saints in August of of 2024 and was then signed by the Los Angele Rams in December. The lineman spent the next two seasons on the Rams’ practice squad but did play in the 2025 regular-season finale where he registered two tackles.
On February 2, 2026, Heflin signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets seeing action in all the Jets’ preseason games, where he recorded 14 total tackles (7 solo) and 2 TFL.
Jets (1-1) at Lions (1-1) Sunday on Fox.
