Braxton Berrios named to NFL’s All-Pro squad
New York Jets wide receiver/return specialist Braxton Berrios has been named to the Associated Press’ 2021-22 NFL All-Pro squad as a kick returner. Berrios led the league with a 30.4-yard average on kickoff returns, the second-best tally in Jets history behind Joe McKnight’s 31.6-yard output in 2011 (min. 25 returns).
The Miami alum took to Twitter to acknowledge his nomination, thanking his teammates for their help in securing the honor.
1st Team All-Pro as a Kick Returner…What an incredible honor, truly don’t have the words other than Thank you to my teammates that made this possible, couldn’t have done it without you guys!!
— Braxton Berrios (@HNYNUT_BERRIOS) January 14, 2022
Originally entering the league as a sixth-round pick in the 2018 draft, Berrios was obtained by the Jets after his original employers in New England included him amongst their final training camp cuts. He has gone on to become a reliable special teams presence in New York, a talent first hinted upon when he finished second in the league in punt return average (11.4) in 2019.
As injuries ate away at the Jets’ receiving corps, Berrios also proved to be a reliable target in the Jets’ passing game, picking up 238 yards on 23 receptions (including one touchdown) over his final six games of the year (missing Sunday’s season finale in Buffalo). Berrios also put in two scores on the ground through New York trickery.
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Berrios’ crowning achievement was his performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars during Week 16 action. One of his returns not only gave New York a permanent lead but also served as the NFL’s longest kick return this season. His 102-yard score, accompanied by 37 yards on five receptions, earned him the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week honor, becoming the first Jets representative in that category since Jason Myers in 2018.
Ironically, Berrios beat out the last New York returner to win first-team All-Pro honors: Andre Roberts, the 2018 recipient now with the Los Angeles Chargers. Roberts finished second with 13 of 50 votes behind Berrios’ 27.
Kene Nwangwu, Isaiah McKenzie, Jakeem Grant, and Devin Duvernay all likewise appeared on the ballot. Baltimore’s Duvernay won the first-team punt returner nomination, where Berrios (who averaged 13.4 yards on 15 returns) also earned two votes.
C.J. Mosley was the only other Jet who earned votes in the 2021-22 AP All-Pro list, earning one in the linebacker category.
View the full team here.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
