When it comes to special teams in the NFL, most people focus their attention on the primary roles: kickers, punters, and returners.

But there are 11 men to every special teams unit. Sometimes, the other 10 get lost in the sauce.

The New York Jets had the NFL’s best special teams unit in 2025. Much of that credit was due to the headliners, such as returners Isaiah Williams and Kene Nwangwu, but it also had to do with their kick coverage team.

Ever since the NFL introduced the dynamic kickoff rules in 2024, kickoff coverage units across the league have become much more important. The Jets’ prowess in kick coverage last season was one of the many reasons they had a historic year on special teams.

Now, entering 2026, with some roster turnover in that facet, who should the Jets look to utilize in kick coverage?

The remaining 2025 crew

Here is a look at the Jets’ primary kick coverage group from last season.

  • RB Isaiah Davis
  • FB Andrew Beck
  • LB Mykal Walker
  • DB Isaiah Oliver
  • CB Qwan’tez Stiggers
  • S Dean Clark
  • LB Cam Jones
  • LB Kobe King
  • CB Azareye’h Thomas
  • LB Kiko Mauigoa

Among those 10 players, seven remain on the Jets’ 90-man roster entering 2026, with Isaiah Oliver, Cam Jones, and Kobe King as the exceptions.

The Jets should be looking to run it back with the seven remaining guys. However, as we recently broke down, the Jets shouldn’t hand out roster spots to too many players solely because of their special teams ability.

Players like Dean Clark and Qwan’tez Stiggers will need to play well defensively in the preseason and summer—not just flash ability on special teams.

Overall, the Jets had five players with at least 120 special teams snaps who earned an 80.0+ special teams grade from Pro Football Focus, including Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Andrew Beck, Jones, Davis, and Mykal Walker.

Beck and Walker are the only returning players, and both figure to earn roster spots once again thanks to their ability to also contribute on offense (Beck) and defense (Walker).

The new faces

Acquired via trade, Minkah Fitzpatrick should be able to provide a nice boost to the Jets’ kick coverage in 2026.

Across 48 snaps in coverage on kickoffs, he earned a solid 63.8 special teams grade from Pro Football Focus, while posting six tackles and just one missed tackle.

Dane Belton is another free agent addition who can contribute in this regard. Throughout 85 snaps in kick coverage last season, he posted a 71.6 special teams grade from PFF, while logging 20 total tackles and four misses with zero penalties.

To boot, Belton and Fitzpatrick aren’t just pure special teamers; they will also contribute in a big way on defense.

Belton has the potential to be the Jets’ starting strong safety this season, while Fitzpatrick, a five-time Pro Bowler, will provide a huge boost to the Jets’ secondary.

Then, throughout the preseason, there are always a few players who surprisingly emerge on special teams coverage. Last year, a perfect example of that was Ja’Markis Weston.

Altogether, while the Jets have lost a few of their key contributors on special teams, the Jets appear well-positioned to not only replicate their strong kick coverage but also their special teams prowess as a whole.