4 other NY Jets who had multiples stints with the franchise

If you take a look at the 2026 NY Jets depth chart, you might feel like it's 2014 again. In the span of about 30 hours from Monday morning to Tuesday afternoon, Darren Mougey pulled off multiple blockbuster deals to bring a couple of former Jets back to New York.

It all started when Demario Davis, a 3rd-round pick by Gang Green in 2012, signed a two-year contract worth $22 million total with $15 million guaranteed on Monday morning. This occurred amid a flurry of other deals that Darren Mougey finalized the same day. Then on Tuesday, the Jets tapped into their alumni depository again to fill the starting quarterback spot, sending a sixth-round pick to Las Vegas in exchange for Geno Smith.

It's not as though Smith exactly thrived as a Jet. And Davis didn't reach his ultimate peak until after departing New York. But it's still a sight for sore Jet fan eyes, that have been forced to watch some of the most abysmal rosters in franchise history over the past couple of years. Compared to what we've been watching, Smith and Davis' tenures may as well have been prime Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis.

And with their returns to the Big Apple, it brought up past memories about other Jets who returned for a second term. Let's take a look at some of the men who passed through the Florham Park halls on more than one occasion.

Antonio Cromartie- CB

It was quite a big deal when the Jets brought in Antonio Cromartie. At the time, the Jets were coming off a stunning run to the AFC Championship game under first-year head coach Rex Ryan and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. They had the best defense in football. More specifically, they had the best cornerback in football, Darrelle Revis.

But that didn't stop Mike Tannenbaum from adding to the position by trading for the talented yet polarizing Cromartie. A former All-Pro, "Cro" had all the ability in the world. He was an athletic demon and an elite cover corner. His doubters bemoaned his hesitant tackling tendencies. Despite the assertions that he was "soft" and didn't fit the rough-and-tough Ryan Jets, Cromartie became an essential piece of yet another AFC Title game run.

After four seasons, 63 games, and two Pro Bowls with Gang Green, Cro was on to Arizona following a release by the Jets in 2014. But after just one season away from home, the star cornerback returned to the Jets, signing back with New York in 2015. This stint would last just one season, and he'd be out of the league just a year after that.

While he never achieved the ultimate prize, just like every other Jet over the past six decades, he came as close as any. Jets fans certainly hope for a return to those heights someday soon. And they also certainly look back on Cromartie's time with fond memories.

Darrelle Revis- CB

Talking about Cromartie was just the perfect lead-in.

Those Rex Ryan teams were outstanding. And the defense, specifically, was as good as any you'll ever come across. They were loaded at every position. But nothing could top the dynamic duo of Revis and Cromartie, one of the greatest cornerback combos in the history of the sport.

As good as Cromartie was, though, even he couldn't hold a candle to Darrelle Revis. Drafted by New York with the 14th overall pick out of Pittsburgh in 2007, Revis grew into a monster. He reached heights that no one has ever reached before or since.

After six seasons with the Jets, the three-time first-team All-Pro opted for greener (redder?) pastures, signing with Tampa Bay following a torn ACL in 2012. This hurt New York fans. But what hurt more was his signing with the hated Patriots the following year, ultimately sharing a Lombardi Trophy with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

While winning the Super Bowl with the enemy felt like a knife in the back, Revis made good with the Gang Green faithful by returning for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. And although he wasn't peak Revis, he made one more Pro Bowl in Gotham Green in 2015, and left fans with a sweeter taste in their mouth after his sour exit two years prior. He would ultimately make the Hall of Fame, remembered almost exclusively as a Jets legend.

Laveranues Coles- WR

He was never a superstar. He never eclipsed 100 receptions or seven touchdowns in a season. But he was consistent as all hell, averaging 75 catches and 957 yards over a 10-year career.

Drafted out of Florida State in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft, Laveranues Coles became one of the most memorable and impactful NY Jets of the 21st Century. After a quiet rookie year, Coles posted 59 and then 89 receptions in 2001 and 2002, increasing his yardage total from 868 to an impressive 1,264.

It looked like the Jets found a steal in the third round. But as fast as he turned into a diamond in the rough, he was on his way out of town. Coles would sign with Washington following his third season after the Jets wouldn't match their offer sheet.

Poof. He was gone.

His exit was short-lived, however. After two more excellent seasons with the Redskins, the Jets traded Santana Moss in exchange for their former draft pick. A model of consistency, Coles would play in 60 of 64 games for the Jets over the next two seasons, averaging 72.3 catches and 859.75 yards catching passes from the likes of Chad Pennington and Brett Favre.

Coles would spend his final year with the Bengals, ultimately retiring following the 2009 season.

Nick Folk- K

Let's swerve back to the Rex Ryan-era Jets again, while somehow simultaneously incorporating the 2025 Jets as well.

It wasn't a popular move in 2010 when the Jets brought in Nick Folk. He was coming off the worst year of his career in Dallas, and this was supposed to be a Super Bowl season for New York. It wasn't the time to mess around. And for some reason, at just age 26, coming off an injury, the year prior, everyone counted him out.

Folk proved all the doubters wrong almost immediately, increasing his field goal percentage from 64.3 to 76.9 on 11 more attempts. And come playoff time, he became a Jet hero forever, knocking in the game-winning field goal as the seconds ticked away on the road in Indianapolis in the wildcard round of the playoffs. So much for all that concern.

Folk would go on to complete seven seasons in New York before bouncing from Tampa Bay to New England (weirdly similar to Revis). But I think it shocked everyone when Folk returned home and signed on a one-year deal with the Jets just before this past season.

At age 40, the veteran kicker was back for one more term, 13 years after he first arrived at the Florham Park headquarters. He finished at a spectacular 96.6% rate of success on 29 field goal attempts, missing just one kick all season. This percentage led the league. Not bad for a 40-year-old, huh?

It appears that Folk won't be returning in 2026, leaving the Jets with some decisions to make at the position. His eight total seasons as a Jet rank with any kicker in franchise history.