Chris Banjo's hot seat is volcanic after latest special teams blunder vs. Raiders

After the 2025 season provided New York Jets fans with barely anything in the realm of positivity, special teams coordinator Chris Banjo appeared to be one of Aaron Glenn's best hiring decisions. In 2026, this hiring is aging so poorly that his spot in charge of this unit could be in jeopardy.

Banjo came into Week 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders having already overseen a unit that regressed in nearly all categories, specifically on kick coverage. After Geno Smith connected with returner darling Isaiah Williams on a touchdown that put the Jets up 13-7, the Raiders immediately responded by taking advantage of Banjo.

Dylan Laube ran the preceding kick 95 yards for a touchdown, putting the Raiders up with their first kickoff return for a touchdown since the 2011 season. The Banjo from 2025 appears to be gone, and it remains to be seen if one of Glenn's original three coordinator hires will join the likes of Tanner Engstrand and Steve Wilks.

Jets STC Chris Banjo struggles again as Raiders return kickoff for touchdown in Week 8

Banjo's top-ranked unit from last year may be without studs like Marcelino McCrary-Ball and Kiko Mauigoa due to injuries, but his unit was pulling people off the street as the Jets went into the tank last season, and the group still performed well. Regression was expected, but falling off the face of the earth was shocking.

One of the more puzzling decisions on the Laube return was punter Austin McNamara, who hasn't been as sharp as he was last year, kicking off in place of Jason Sanders. McNamara shanked his first kick out of bounds and allowed Laube to run another one back. Sanders was later put back in as the kicker.

This could be a coach experimenting with improving a subpar unit, but this move immediately came back to bite the Jets.

The New York Jets are worse on special teams in 2026

Williams performed at a fringe All-Pro level running back kicks last season, but the preseason darling has not been able to replicate that same electric style this season. His averages are down, and the Jets are constantly losing the field position battle as a result.

Oddly enough, the kicker room has been the part of this unit that has performed the best to start the season. After struggling in the preseason and confusing fans as to why he kicked over Blake Grupe, Sanders came into Week 8 with just two missed field goals. The former Miami Dolphins kicker picked up where he left off.

No one should be safe after the Jets have once again faceplanted following a somewhat promising start to the season, and Banjo's regression is doing him no favors.

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