The Jets quietly have one of the NFL's best special teams players

Marcelino McCrary-Ball may not be one of the more notable names on the New York Jets roster, but he has managed to stick around longer than most undrafted free agents ever do, and that has to count for something.

McCrary-Ball has become a reliable member of the Jets' special teams unit now entering his fourth season with the organization, and he will look to continue building on that role this summer.

Day 49 of your 2026 Jets Camp Countdown belongs to Marcellino & Barnes, Scary McCrary, the Wrecking Ball, and one of the best special teams players on the Jets' roster...it's Marcelino McCrary-Ball.

1. Where Marcelino McCrary-Ball stands entering Jets training camp
2. Marcelino McCrary-Ball has found his NFL calling card on special teams
3. What would make 2026 a success for Marcelino McCrary-Ball
4. Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

Where Marcelino McCrary-Ball stands entering Jets training camp

McCrary-Ball originally signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of Indiana in 2022 before joining the Jets' practice squad just before the start of the 2023 season. His biggest opportunity to date, however, came last year.

McCrary-Ball opened the season as the Jets' third linebacker and received significant playing time on defense for the first time in his NFL career. Unfortunately, recurring hamstring injuries limited him to just five games, preventing him from ever settling into a consistent role on defense.

He did manage to make quite the impact on special teams, though. McCrary-Ball finished second on the Jets with eight special teams tackles despite appearing in only those five games. He also earned an 85.0 Pro Football Focus special teams grade, the highest mark on the team, while serving as the Jets' special teams captain.

Marcelino McCrary-Ball has found his NFL calling card on special teams

Again, McCrary-Ball's special teams production last season was remarkable when you consider how little he actually played. He recorded those eight tackles on just 44 combined kick and punt coverage snaps.

That works out to a tackle on roughly 18 percent of his coverage snaps, an absurd rate that would have easily ranked first in the NFL if he had played enough snaps to qualify.

He also didn't miss a single tackle all year, whether on defense or special teams. That's how you stick around in the NFL on special teams, and it's easy to see why Chris Banjo will likely continue to trust McCrary-Ball in that phase of the game.

Special teams specialists rarely receive much attention, but players who consistently cover kicks, make tackles, and avoid mistakes tend to stick around the league for a long time.

Camp Countdown: Your guide to every player on the 2026 Jets roster

What would make 2026 a success for Marcelino McCrary-Ball

The biggest priority for McCrary-Ball this season is staying healthy. If he can put the hamstring injuries behind him and continue producing on special teams, he'll put himself in a strong position to earn another roster spot.

It helps his case that the Jets' linebacker depth is virtually the same as it was a year ago. Right now, he's theoretically competing with the likes of Mykal Walker and Kiko Mauigoa for the team's top backup linebacker.

That said, it would probably be best for everyone involved if McCrary-Ball were mostly limited to special teams snaps in 2026. His 46.4 PFF grade in 2025 doesn't inspire much confidence that he could be a legitimate defensive contributor, even if it came in a limited sample size.

McCrary-Ball has already shown he belongs on an NFL roster because of what he brings on special teams. Another healthy season as one of Banjo's most reliable contributors would make 2026 a successful year for both McCrary-Ball and the Jets.

Now he just has to find a better celebration than...whatever the hell that fish-flopping one was against the Falcons last season.

Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

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