Jets officially reunite with fan-favorite kicker to shake up competition

The New York Jets have officially brought back a familiar face and fan favorite to shake up their kicker competition. Head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters after Tuesday’s practice that the team has signed veteran kicker Nick Folk.

The move reunites the Jets with their second all-time leading scorer nearly a decade after his first stint ended. The Jets released rookie UDFA Caden Davis earlier in the day, setting the stage for a head-to-head battle between Folk and UFL standout Harrison Mevis, also known as the “Thiccer Kicker.”

Folk spent seven years with the Jets between 2010 and 2016 and is beloved by many fans to this day. Now 40 years old, he’s hoping to extend his 18-year NFL career with one more stop in Florham Park.

Folk's return to New York hopes to be more than one final nostalgia act. The Jets did not have a kicker on their roster who had ever appeared in an NFL game prior to this signing, so Folk's addition will be a welcome one.

Jets reunite with Nick Folk and shake up kicker battle

The Jets have cycled through kickers for years since Folk's departure. The team hoped they had finally found a solution to the kicker position following Greg Zuerlein's record-setting 2023 season, but he quickly fell off a proverbial cliff the following year.

Zuerlein made just one kick longer than 40 yards all season, and the Jets found themselves right back in kicker purgatory. The team signed the aforementioned Mevis to compete with undrafted rookie Caden Davis this summer, but the latter was released on Tuesday after a shaky start to camp.

Folk enters the mix with a resume that speaks for itself. He led the NFL in field goal percentage in both 2023 (29-of-30) and 2024 (21-of-22) while with the Tennessee Titans, including a perfect 6-for-6 from 50+ yards last season. He missed the final three games of 2024 with a groin injury.

And of course, Jets fans haven’t forgotten the original “Folk Hero.” From walk-off kicks to playoff heroics, Folk became one of the most reliable special teams weapons in franchise history. His 729 points rank second all-time for the team behind only Pat Leahy.

Aaron Glenn has made it clear that he won’t hand out roster spots based on sentiment, but this isn’t just a nostalgia play. The Jets need a steady leg they can trust in crunch time, and Folk has proven time and again he can deliver.

The “Thiccer Kicker” might be the future, but the present just got a lot more interesting. The Folk Hero is back, and he’s not just here for the memories.

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