New Jets DB gets perfect welcome from coaching staff after viral sideline shove

Sometimes we all get caught up in the heat of the moment. The emotions run high, and tempers can flare. That’s what happened to newly signed New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd in a now-infamous moment that occurred last season.

Boyd, then a member of the Houston Texans, forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of his team's Divisional Round matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. The ball would be recovered by Kansas City, but an animated Boyd was seen throwing his helmet to the ground before shoving one of his coaches.

That coach was special teams coordinator Frank Ross, who appeared caught off guard by Boyd's enthusiasm. The interaction was shown on live TV, capturing a moment that would soon go viral for all the wrong reasons.

Boyd explained after the game that he threw his helmet and pushed his coach in celebration and that there was no animosity. Eventually, everyone laughed it off and moved on from the bizarre incident.

Boyd's new Jets coaches aren't so eager to let him forget about it, however. His new special teams coordinator, Chris Banjo, had a laugh at his expense upon their first meeting at the Jets' team facility.

Kris Boyd already making friends with his new NY Jets coaching staff

In an interview with the Jets' official team website shortly after he inked his one-year, $1.6 million contract, Boyd was asked about his first impressions of his new coaching staff. The former Texas star detailed a joke Banjo made about the infamous shove in their initial meeting.

"I did see [Chris] Banjo and [Aaron Glenn] when I walked in. Banjo had the energy when I first met him. He hit me with a joke and it was really funny. It had me like ‘man I can’t wait to get in here.’ When he saw me, he said, ‘Hey, don’t push me.’ That just shows the connection we’re building already."

Kris Boyd

Boyd appears to be wasting little time acquainting himself with a coach he should have the opportunity to get to know very well over the coming months. While he's listed as a cornerback, Boyd has primarily been a special-teams contributor in recent years.

A seventh-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Boyd spent the first four years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings after a standout career at Texas. Following a brief stint in Arizona, Boyd would sign with the Texans in October of 2023.

Boyd would go on to appear in all 17 games for the Texans in 2024, playing a team-high 77 percent of special teams snaps. He hasn't played more than 48 defensive snaps in a season since 2021.

Boyd has a bit more experience at cornerback than someone like former Jets special teams ace Justin Hardee, but that likely isn't why the Jets signed him.

He joins a crowded cornerback room that also features the likes of Sauce Gardner, Brandon Stephens, Michael Carter II, Qwan'tez Stiggers, and Jarrick Bernard-Converse. The Jets also re-signed veteran Isaiah Oliver, whom the new coaching staff reportedly views more as a cornerback.

That’s not to say Boyd is guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster — far from it. His clearest path is through special teams, and building a strong relationship with Banjo could go a long way in helping him stick with the team come September.

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