Now that the regular season is here, we’ve been updating you on former Jets players and what their status is for the upcoming season. Having looked at offensive and defensive players over the past week, we’ll be concluding with a look at special teamers today.
As ever, this list is intended to be exhaustive, but if we missed anyone, let us know in the comments.
Kickers
Cairo Santos, Bears
Santos is one of a handful of former Jets kickers who ultimately settled with a team and established himself with them.
He returns to Chicago, who he has now been with since 2020.
Chase McLaughlin, Bucs
Similarly, McLaughlin is well established in Tampa Bay and is returning for a fourth season with the Bucs.
Jason Myers, Seahawks
Myers remains in Seattle, where he has been since he left the Jets following a pro bowl season in 2018.
Nick Folk, Falcons
Speaking of Jets who left immediately after a great season, Folk signed with Atlanta and will be their kicker in 2026.
Spencer Shrader, Colts
Shrader won the Colts’ job last year but missed most of the season due to injury and their kicker down the stretch was Blake Grupe. Grupe is, of course, now with the Jets, after Shrader won their competition.
Riley Patterson, Dolphins
Jason Sanders is now on the Jets’ practice squad after spending all of last year on injured reserve while another ex-Jet held onto his old job. Patterson has been retained for this year, while Sanders failed to win the Jets’ role.
Eddy Pineiro, 49ers
Pineiro had three solid years with the Panthers after leaving the Jets but moved to San Francisco last season and they opted to bring him back with no competition.
Harrison Mevis, Rams
Mevis won the Rams job after doing well there at the end of last season. That makes a quarter of the league that currently has an ex-Jet as their placekicker.
Lenny Krieg, Packers
Krieg didn’t last very long in the competition for the Packers’ job but they opted to keep him on the practice squad as their International Pathway Player.
Punters
Braden Mann, Eagles
Mann has also found a permanent home for himself after moving on from the Jets and is now entrenched as the Eagles’ punter.
Kai Kroeger, Texans
Kroeger was traded from the Saints to the Texans in the offseason and locked down their punter job with a solid preseason.
Return Specialists
Kalif Raymond, Bears
Raymond has been one of the league’s most reliable punt returners for the Lions over the past several years, but he’ll be doing it in a different home this year, in Chicago.
Malachi Corley, Browns
Corley is also likely to play a significant role on special teams, as he did last season. He is listed as the Browns’ first string kickoff returner.
Ty Johnson, Bills
Johnson also regularly gets work as a kickoff returner and that’s likely to continue in 2026.
Others
The likes of Braxton Berrios, Brandon Codrington and Greg Dortch could all make contributions as returners this year but are currently on practice squads rather than active rosters.
Other Special Teams Contributors
Chargers linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips, who led the league with 24 special teams tackles, is one of the top special teams contributors in the NFL.
Seattle’s Chazz Surratt and Zaire Barnes of the Giants are also productive in coverage, as is Carolina’s Claud Cherelus.
Lions safety Chuck Clark also usually makes good contributions on special teams, as does Giants defensive back Elijah Campbell.
As we know, Irv Charles is a top punt gunner, but he’s on Seattle’s injured reserve right now.
Finally, Browns defensive tackle Shelby Harris, Commanders defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and Leonard Taylor III of the Patriots have all shown a knack for blocking kicks.
