The Three Best New York Jets Kickers of All-Time

Let’s continue choosing our all-time New York Jets roster.

Over the last several days, we have been voting on an all-time Jets roster, position by position. We have gone through the entire offense and defense. Now we take on the special teams. OK, we take on one special teams position, because the other specials will be easy to choose. But the Jets have had a few good kickers throughout their history, so it is worth taking a vote.

The three kickers that we have are from three clearly different periods of Jets history. One player won a Super Bowl ring, one scored more than anyone else in Jets history, and one is a guy that we call a “Folk Hero”. It is a talented group, so let’s get to it with the first nominee…

Next: Jim Turner

For many years, the Jets were not allowed to play at Shea Stadium until November. That was until May 26, 1977.

Our first nominee took care of the uprights at Shea Stadium, and won a Super Bowl ring as well. Jim Turner was actually chosen by the Redskins with the 19th round selection of the 1963 NFL draft. He ended up with the Jets, and was with the team through the 1970 season. Turner played a large role for the Jets in Super Bowl III, booting three field goals en route to the 16-7 win over the Baltimore Colts.

Turner was selected to back-to-back Pro Bowls (1968-1969), booting over 30 field goals each year, and not missing an extra point in the same time frame. He posted well over 100 points for the Jets in each of those seasons, making his mark as a top kicker in franchise history.

Our first nominee, number 11, Jim Turner!

Next: Pat Leahy

Our second nominee played for the Jets in three different decades. Pat Leahy came to the Jets in 1974, and didn’t leave until after the 1991 season. His first strong season came in 1975 with 66 points, and off he went. 1978 marked the first year that Leahy posted over 100 points for the Jets, and he managed that six more times throughout his career.

Leahy was a first-team All-Pro in 1978. He finished his career as the Jets all-time leading scorer with 1,470 points. His record of 22 straight field goal attempts was not broken until 2009, when Jay Feely topped the mark. He was a kicker, so obviously he wasn’t hit much, but it is still impressive to play in three different decades, no matter what the position was.

Our second nominee, number five, Pat Leahy!

Next: Nick Folk

Dec 7, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Jets kicker

Nick Folk

(2) kicks a 44 yard field goal to tie the game with the Minnesota Vikings as kicker

Ryan Quigley

(4) holds the ball in the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Finally, the aforementioned “Folk hero”. Nick Folk came to the Jets in 2010, after playing three years for the Dallas Cowboys. In four out of five years with the Jets, Folk has posted as least 90 points. What Folk has been best known for in New York has been the clutch field goals.

We all remember his field goal to top the Colts in the 2010 playoffs. He made several game winners in 2013, including the season opener in Tampa Bay, one to top the Patriots, and an OT kick to beat the Atlanta Falcons.

Our final nominee, number two, Nick Folk!

There are your nominees, please vote below:

Who is the best Jets kicker of all time?

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Next: The Last Five Draft Picks at #37

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