Big Apple Bamba: Former BYU CB Mory Bamba talk of town after Jets’ preseason game

AROUND THE SHIELD — There were plenty of positives for New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn to take away from the team’s 24-16 preseason loss to the Tampa bay Buccaneers, but a specific one stood that may interest BYU fans.

“Bamba island?” Glenn asked rhetorically with a chuckle after the game.

Yeah, that one.

Former BYU cornerback Mory Bamba had four tackles and four passes defended in the Jets’ loss Friday night, coming off the bench to play 46 snaps on defense. He also made a tackle in six snaps on special teams.

“Listen; I think some of the young DBs really showed up, and he’s the one that really stands out,” said Glenn, a former three-time All-Pro cornerback himself. “It’s not just what he did on defense, but he did some good plays on special teams, too.

“There’s a couple of mistakes that he had, too. I’ve got to make sure I say that,” he added. “But for the most part, I thought he showed out tonight.”

Aaron Glenn was asked about Mory Bamba's play tonight:

"Bamba Island?" 😂 pic.twitter.com/AvVU1yADRh

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 15, 2026

Can Mory Bamba make the Jets’ roster?

It may be too early to tell if Bamba’s breakout preseason is a sign of a franchise fit for the future. But the fact that the 6-foot-3 native of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is on the lips of New York sports talk radio and fans in the New York-New Jersey area is a surprise to some.

Bamba was a star hurdler and triple jumper before switching from track and field to full-time football. After junior college stops at ASA College in Miami, where he had 14 tackles, six pass breakups and an interception, he spent the spring at Tyler Junior College in Texas in 2022.

That’s where the practicing Muslim learned about BYU, and quickly transferred to the university owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Provo.

Bamba spent four years in Provo, aided by a redshirt season in 2022 and an extra season of eligibility granted for junior college players in 2025 to total 47 tackles, 10 solo stops, two tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, nine pass breakups and nine passes defended for the Cougars.

His four pass defenses came in just over eight minutes of the second quarter, his first competitive football game since signing as an undrafted free agent with the Jets.

Bamba’s big game

But the secret to Bamba’s standout first game?

“Just play loose,” he told reporters after the game. “When you’re out there overthinking, you’re going to end up messing up any ways.

“I just allowed myself to play loose, and stay loose out there.”

Mamba told newyorkjets.com that he felt “pretty good” about the game, but was mostly happy “to play football again.”

“It’s a game of imperfect,” he added, “but the biggest thing is I just kept having that next-play mentality and just played loose.”

Mory Bamba's preseason debut
🔒 4 PD
🔒 3 rec allowed on 9 targets pic.twitter.com/CliAz8PB2h

— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 15, 2026