The New York Jets continue to emphasize retaining the best players from their dominant special teams unit.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, New York has agreed with return specialist Kene Nwangwu on a one-year, $2 million deal with $1 million guaranteed to bring him back to the Jets. The deal is worth a maximum of $3 million.
Nwangwu, 28, has been among the NFL’s best returners since he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings out of Iowa State in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. In five NFL seasons (51 games), he has scored five kick return touchdowns, the most among active players.
That gives Nwangwu an average of one kick return touchdown every 10 games—an outstanding rate. As impressive as it is, the veteran has exceeded it since coming to New York.
Nwangwu joined the Jets’ practice squad in 2024. Across two seasons in New York, Nwangwu has scored two kick return touchdowns in just 14 games (21 attempts). He is averaging 36.2 yards per kick return as a Jet, while his career average of 29.7 yards per kick return is also first among active players (min. 75 attempts).
The Frisco, Texas, native earned second-team All-Pro honors with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022. This past season, he placed fifth in All-Pro voting among kick returners. In 12 games, Nwangwu averaged 33.6 yards on 18 kick returns, highlighted by a 99-yard touchdown in the Jets’ narrow Week 10 win over the Browns.
New York has already re-signed three key special teams players from a unit that led the league in DVOA this past season: Nwangwu, Andrew Beck, and Mykal Walker. However, the unit suffered a key loss in kicker Nick Folk.
