Top three things to know about Valley Stream's Andre Cisco's NFL homecoming with the Jets

Valley Stream native Andre Cisco is coming home—this time as a New York Jets. His storied arc from local standout to NFL playmaker has already made him a hometown favorite. Now as he dawns the green and white on the playing field, for residents in general, and Jets fans  in particular, there’s even more reason to fire up the confetti cannon. Here are the top three things to know about Cisco and his connection to Valley Stream.

1. Jets are betting big on homegrown star

The 24-year-old NFL safety signed a one-year $10 million deal with the Jets earlier this month. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted 24-year-old Andre Cisco in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft from Syracuse University. Before he was patrolling NFL secondaries, Cisco was a hometown kid running drills with the Green Hornets and dreaming big on the fields of Valley Stream. Now, after a three-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he’s set to take on a pivotal role in the Jets’ defensive rebuild.

 

2. His roots run deep in Valley Stream

Last summer, Cisco hosted a football camp for Valley Stream while extolling the virtues of grit, hustle, and the game-changing lessons of sports.

“I just want to emphasize growing as a man, growing as a player, just continue to grow as a person,” he told campers. “Your biggest challenge isn’t choosing between good and bad, it’s choosing between good and what’s best for you.”

Cisco’s words carried weight—not just because of his NFL pedigree, but because his story is one that village athletes can see themselves in.

“I think what I love most about football is just adapting to different people, the competitive environment, having to be assertive,” Cisco said. “...On the mindset side, it’s hard work and dedication. Those early mornings, that discipline is second to none. What else is an 18-year-old getting up for at 5 a.m. consistently?”

He once roamed the same streets, sat in the same classrooms, and played on the same fields. His early days with the Green Hornets eventually led him to St. Anthony’s High School, and later to IMG Academy, where he honed his skills before committing to Syracuse University.

 

3. Cisco has ‘walked the walk.’

His hard work paid off when the Jaguars selected him 65th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. In Jacksonville, he flashed his playmaking ability, tallying eight interceptions, 24 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles over four seasons.

However, inconsistencies in coverage and a late-season groin injury in 2024 left questions about his long-term role. Now, with the Jets revamping their secondary under new head coach Aaron Glenn, Cisco has a chance to reset and make an impact.

Valley Stream Central head football coach Tom Schiavo has long pointed to Cisco as a prime example of what hard work and determination can achieve.

“He’s walked the walk,” Schiavo told the Herald in 2024. “He’s taken what they do to the highest level, and he can give them great advice on how to get there if they choose to do so. He’s also battled through a lot of difficulty in his life, and he knows what works. And he’s a good person with an excellent reputation and good morals and values.”

In many ways, Schiavo noted, Cisco uniquely understands the struggles that student athletes face not just in their sport, but in life.

Have an opinion on this article? Send an email to jlasso@liherald.com.