Jets insider offers significant update on Nick Folk's NFL future

The 2025 season was one to forget for the New York Jets, as nearly everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the team in Aaron Glenn's first season at the helm. One of the only strong points, though, was the special teams.

The Jets weren't just good on special teams in 2025; they were elite and finished as one of the strongest units in NFL history. It's not crazy to say that if it wasn't for Chris Banjo and the Jets' special teams, New York probably finishes the season 1-15.

Among the top special teams performers for the Jets was kicker Nick Folk. After some late-season and early-offseason speculation about Folk possibly retiring, it sounds like the veteran is coming back for another year.

"By all accounts, Folk is not ready to retire, and the Jets would be smart to bring him back for another year. Folk signed a one-year, $2.8 million deal last season, and a similar deal seems likely."

Zack Rosenblatt

This report from Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic is good news for the Jets, as Folk was one of the lone positives in a tumultuous season.

Nick Folk could return to the Jets after impressive 2025 season

After opening up training camp with Caden Davis and Harrison Mevis as the only rostered kickers, the Jets signed Folk in late July to stabilize a shaky kicker situation. To say Folk stabilized things would be an understatement.

The veteran kicker quickly lived up to his "Folk Hero" nickname once again in what was a dominant 2025 season. The 41-year-old finished his 18th season by connecting on 28-of-29 field goal tries, which was good for a league leading 96.6%.

It was the third straight year that Folk led the league in field goal percentage as the Arizona product posted a league best 95.5% in 2024 and 96.7% in 2023, both with the Tennessee Titans.

Folk was perfect inside of 50 yards and was 7-of-8 on kicks from 50+ yards, with his only miss coming from 55 yards against the Falcons, where he ended up kicking the game-winner from 56 yards later that afternoon.

What may be most impressive out of Folk's 18th season in the NFL is that he set a new career high for the longest field goal in his career, connecting from 58-yards against the Dolphins in Week 4. Simply put, the 41-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down.

Folk has put together some of his strongest seasons as he gets older. The former sixth-round pick has had seven seasons with a 90% or better field goal percentage, with five of those seven coming in the last six years.

At just $2.8 million, Folk was well worth the investment and a good move by Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey. Looking ahead to 2026, it's clear that the Jets have no shortage of holes on the roster that need to be filled.

At moments, it seemed like kicker would be in that grouping of holes on the roster, but with signs pointing towards Folk returning, the Jets shouldn't hesitate at all in bringing the veteran kicker back for his 19th season in the NFL and ninth with the franchise.