Jobless former Jets record-breaker may be forced into retirement

Greg Zuerlein’s NFL journey may have quietly reached its final chapter. Less than two years after putting together the greatest statistical season by a kicker in New York Jets history, the 37-year-old remains unsigned with training camps about to begin.

The man once known as “Legatron” is now seemingly on the brink of retirement, as it seems unlikely that any team will be jumping at the chance to give him an opportunity. Given his 2024 performance, it's not hard to see why.

It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Zuerlein had finally given the Jets a stable option at the kicker position. He was genuinely one of the best kickers in football in 2023. But his rapid fall in 2024 was as abrupt as it was costly, and the Jets didn’t hesitate to move on this spring.

Now, still unsigned and with little buzz around his name, Zuerlein is staring down a difficult truth that few NFL veterans ever get to prepare for. His time is likely up.

Greg Zuerlein's NFL career is likely over after disastrous Jets year

Zuerlein signed a one-year contract with the Jets in March of 2022, bringing a decade's worth of NFL experience with him. After being drafted by the Rams in 2012, he emerged as one of the league’s premier kickers, even earning a first-team All‑Pro nod in 2014.

Following an up-and-down two-year tenure in Dallas, Zuerlein joined the Jets in 2022 and beat out veteran Eddy Piñeiro for the job. It was his 2023 season, however, that allowed him to secure his place in Jets record books.

Zuerlein finished the 2023 season making a franchise-record 92.1% of field goals, while also making 28-of-29 extra-point attempts. That includes making 5-of-6 field goals from 50+, including another team-record 60-yarder in a Week 13 game against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Jets rewarded Zuerlein with a two-year extension that offseason, but less than a full year after his historic 2023 campaign, the wheels finally came off. Zuerlein was a disaster in 2024.

The former elite kicker fell hard, connecting on just 9-of-15 field goal attempts and managing only one make from beyond 40 yards. Injuries compounded the issue, as a persistent knee problem landed him on injured reserve in October.

Zuerlein briefly returned late in December, only for him to be placed back on IR before he could suit up again. His erratic play cost the Jets multiple games, prompting the team to move on without hesitation come the offseason.

The Jets find themselves in a familiar position entering training camp. The team's kicker competition is set to be a battle between undrafted rookie Caden Davis and UFL standout Harrison Mevis, also known as the "Thiccer Kicker." Neither has appeared in an NFL game.

For a franchise that finally believed it had solved its kicking woes, the fall from grace couldn’t have been quicker or more painful. And while the Jets may not know what to expect from their rookie kickers, it's hard to imagine either will be much worse than Zuerlein was this past year.

As for Zuerlein, his NFL career may quietly come to a close without a sendoff.

More NY Jets news and analysis: