Kene Nwangwu is making a return that Jets fans were hoping for. Last season, he wowed everyone with a thrilling 99-yard kickoff return touchdown in his debut wearing the green and white. Now he’s set to make a comeback as he agreed to terms with the team on Friday.
The one-year deal, reported by NFL Network, is loaded with incentives and could be worth up to $2.5 million. Alongside Nwangwu’s return, the Jets have bolstered their roster by signing punter Austin McNamara and receiver Tyler Johnson, whose agency confirmed his new contract with the team.
Back in Week 12 of last season, Nwangwu, at 27, almost propelled the Jets to a surprise victory over the Seahawks. In that game, he stood out with three kickoff returns totaling an impressive 152 yards, including a touchdown. Unfortunately, his momentum was cut short due to a season-ending hand injury after only one more game.
This year, the Jets have someone new leading their special teams, a change not seen since 2016. Head coach Aaron Glenn has brought in Chris Banjo, a fellow protégé of Sean Payton, to take the reins. Brant Boyer, resilient through coaching changes from Todd Bowles to Adam Gase to Robert Saleh, has now followed Saleh to the 49ers.
Nwangwu has a solid reputation in the special teams world. In 2022, he was a Second-Team All-Pro, averaging 26.3 yards per kickoff return with the Vikings. As the NFL’s Competition Committee considers tweaking kickoff rules to reduce touchbacks and boost returns starting in 2025, players like Nwangwu are becoming increasingly valuable.
While he’s primarily known as a running back, Nwangwu only took one offensive snap last season, bringing his career total to 27 rushes.
In other news, 24-year-old McNamara, who went undrafted following his time at Texas Tech in 2024, joins the Jets from a stint with the Bengals during training camp. Despite having no NFL game experience, his addition to the team is noteworthy.
Tyler Johnson, 26, brings his record of 76 receptions for 828 yards and four touchdowns to the Jets, built over a 49-game career with teams like the Buccaneers, Texans, and Rams.
