Jets officially cement the NFL's best redemption story with MVP vote

Isaiah Williams’ season came full circle this week when he was voted the New York Jets’ Curtis Martin Award, a player-voted honor given yearly to the team's MVP. It was the culmination of one of the NFL's most incredible redemption arcs in recent memory.

It also served as a nice reminder that individual stories can still shine in the midst of typical Jets misery. After all, Williams’ journey from afterthought to centerpiece was almost unthinkable just a few months ago.

He became just the third special teamer in Jets history to win team MVP, joining Bruce Harper in 1980 and Pat Leahy in 1990. That alone places him in rare company. When paired with the circumstances of his season, it cements one of the most dramatic redemption narratives the league has seen in years.

Stories like this are why we love sports and why, despite the seemingly never-ending suffering, we still watch this silly football team.

Isaiah Williams completes redemption arc by being named Jets MVP

Williams entered the NFL undrafted out of Illinois and bounced around before finding his way to Florham Park. He previously spent time with the Detroit Lions, where he crossed paths with head coach Aaron Glenn, a connection that helped land him a deal with the Jets.

His early tenure with the Jets was rocky, to say the least. Williams struggled mightily on special teams, committing several costly mistakes that came to a head in a brutal Week 4 performance against the Miami Dolphins, which included a kickoff fumble and a fair catch deep inside his own territory. The Jets cut him shortly thereafter.

At that point, most assumed that Williams would never appear in another NFL game again, let alone as a member of the Jets. It's easy to forget now, but the Jets cycled through a host of failed return specialists in the wake of Kene Nwangwu's injury early in the season, and Williams was deemed the worst of them all.

But the Jets re-signed Williams to their practice squad, as Glenn stuck with him despite being slammed for it at the time. What followed was a career turnaround that feels like something out of a Disney movie.

Williams transformed into one of the league’s most dangerous return men, scoring two punt return touchdowns with a third wiped away by penalty. He finished near the top of the NFL in both kickoff and punt return averages and even earned Pro Bowl alternate consideration.

His role eventually expanded beyond special teams, as Williams emerged as a legitimate offensive contributor. He finished the season with 21 receptions for 169 yards, surpassing the production of Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard, Tyler Johnson, and Arian Smith — four players who opened the year as part of the team’s top five wide receivers.

Teammates watched the work Williams put in and the resilience required to claw back from being released midseason. He earned this honor. Williams not only saved his NFL career, but he became an indispensable part of the Jets in yet another lost season.

Williams’ name now sits alongside a short list of Jets legends who earned the same honor, but his path there is certainly the most unique. An undrafted player. A midseason cut. A special teamer. A player once written off entirely.

Isaiah Williams salvaged his career and rewrote his story. And with the Jets’ MVP vote, that redemption story is now officially complete.