Kene Nwangwu is already one of the best kick returners in NFL history (seriously)

The New York Jets’ secret weapon isn’t much of a secret anymore. Their special teams have become one of the strongest parts of the roster, and, as we saw firsthand this past Sunday, the team has legitimately won games because of the so-called third phase.

This group has become the NFL’s gold standard, and at the center of it all is kick returner Kene Nwangwu. Nwangwu is quickly becoming one of the most feared returners not only in the league today, but he's already putting himself into all-time conversations.

Following his 99-yard kick return touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in Week 10, Nwangwu has now scored five career kick return touchdowns on just 79 attempts. That’s one every 16 returns, a rate the league has likely never seen.

Devin Hester, the benchmark for return greatness, averaged one every 59. Cordarrelle Patterson, the all-time leader with nine, averaged one every 29. In fact, Nwangwu already has as many total kick return touchdowns as Hester did in his entire career despite over 216 fewer attempts.

Kene Nwangwu is quickly becoming one of the NFL's GOAT kick returners

Nwangwu's efficiency as a returner is downright absurd, and at just 27 years old, he's already climbing up the all-time rankings. He’s actually tied for ninth in NFL history in kick return touchdowns, with as many as the likes of Hester and Percy Harvin despite returning fewer than 80 kicks in his career.

Of course, unlike those names, Nwangwu doesn’t return punts — all his damage has come on kickoffs. Hester’s 14 punt return touchdowns are a big part of what made him so legendary.

But when it comes to pure kick returners, no one in NFL history has been more efficient than Nwangwu. In fact, his 29.8-yard career average ranks second all-time, behind only Hall of Famer Gale Sayers

A fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jets signed Nwangwu to their practice squad in early September of last year, but he didn't make his debut with the team until a Dec. 1 game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Nwangwu wasted little time making a first impression, returning a kick 99 yards for a touchdown in his Jets debut. Unfortunately, the former All-Pro would play just one more game before an injury ended his season prematurely.

Injuries have hindered Nwangwu so far in New York. He's played just four games this season due to a hamstring injury and a concussion, but when healthy, he’s legitimately one of the most dangerous weapons in football.

Nwangwu leads the NFL with a ridiculous 39.8 average yards per kick return this season and is currently Pro Football Focus' highest-graded return specialist.

Special teams coordinator Chris Banjo has overseen a group that has quickly become the best special teams unit in the NFL, and Nwangwu's continued greatness — aided by some stellar blocking — has helped solidify that notion.

If Nwangwu is able to stay healthy, he might have a chance to further etch his name in NFL history. The Jets quietly have one of the most dangerous weapons in the league, and soon enough, the secret will be out.