Robert Saleh poaches Jets fan favorite in unsurprising 49ers reunion

Thomas Morstead is back with some familiar faces, as the veteran punter, released by the New York Jets earlier this month, has officially signed with the San Francisco 49ers.

The move reunites Morstead with former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and longtime special teams coordinator Brant Boyer. Saleh returned to the 49ers as defensive coordinator this offseason, while Boyer was hired to oversee the special teams unit.

While Morstead was excellent in 2023, his 2024 campaign saw a noticeable drop-off, which is partially why the Jets decided to move on. Age and cap considerations certainly played a role, too, as the Jets’ front office seemed ready to go younger and cheaper at the position.

Now, just a few weeks after being released by the Jets, he lands in a familiar environment with two coaches who know him very well. Morstead will have every opportunity to continue his legendary NFL career, this time with a team that should find a bit more success than his Jets did.

Thomas Morstead reunites with Robert Saleh and Brant Boyer in first post-Jets landing spot

Morstead was a stabilizing presence for the Jets’ special teams unit in 2023, rejoining the team after a brief stint with the organization in 2021. His performance that year earned him an extension, but 2024 didn’t go nearly as smoothly.

The 38-year-old took a noticeable step back, finishing with the highest touchback percentage of his career. While he remained dependable, the decline was enough to prompt the Jets to seek younger replacements, especially given Morstead’s age and $3 million cap hit.

That decision leaves the Jets with two new faces competing for the job this summer: Austin McNamara and Kai Kroeger. McNamara was signed after a standout college career at Texas Tech and spent last summer with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kroeger, meanwhile, is a former South Carolina punter who joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent this spring. Both are big-legged prospects with upside, but neither has taken an NFL regular-season snap, setting up what should be a true training camp battle.

As for Morstead, he now joins a 49ers team that already has an established punter in Mitch Wishnowsky. However, Wishnowsky’s lingering back injury limited him to just nine games in 2024, and his performance dipped when he was healthy.

San Francisco may view Morstead as veteran insurance or a legitimate challenger, especially given his familiarity with Boyer. The team also brought in kicker Greg Joseph, another 2024 Jets alum, to compete with Jake Moody. Clearly, the 49ers are leaning into Boyer’s connections.

With Boyer gone and former NFL safety Chris Banjo stepping in as the Jets’ new special teams coordinator, it’s a fresh start for the Jets' special teams unit. And for Morstead, it’s a chance to turn back the clock with the coaches who trusted him most.

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