Jets Release Kicker Greg Zuerlein
The Jets have officially let go of kicker Greg Zuerlein, a move that many anticipated.
Zuerlein’s 2024 season was, well, pretty disappointing—he only attempted six field goals and played in just eight games.
Fans are likely to remember his season for the significant kicks he missed against teams like the Broncos, Bills, and Patriots. It wasn’t exactly his finest hour.
At 37 years old, Zuerlein joined the Jets back in 2022, providing some much-needed stability after a turbulent period for the team’s kicking game.
Interestingly, in 2023, he missed just three field goals, which seemed to justify the Jets’ decision to pay him a substantial two-year, $8.4 million contract, including a guaranteed $4.2 million—making it the largest contract ever for a kicker on the team.
By making this release, the Jets free up $2.4 million in salary cap space, although Zuerlein will carry a $2.3 million dead cap charge into 2025.
In a pivotal moment last season, Zuerlein found himself on injured reserve following a missed extra point in a close 25-22 defeat against the Patriots. This came after he failed to make a crucial 44-yard field goal the prior October.
Before that, he had, unfortunately, missed a 50-yarder that could have clinched a win in another tight game back in September.
Currently, the Jets have Anders Carlson in the kicker position. He performed well against the Jets last season, going a perfect 10 for 10 on field goals over five games.
It’s also possible the team might bring in more competition for Carlson this spring or summer, especially since they’ve recently signed undrafted free agent Caden Davis from Mississippi State.
This week has been eventful for the Jets, marking a shake-up in their special teams, as they also released punter Thomas Morstead—though that was a bit of a surprise compared to Zuerlein’s departure.
New Jets coach Aaron Glenn seems intent on refreshing the roster, making moves that resonate with his desire to inject youth into the team. Additionally, the Jets announced they have signed defensive end Michael Fletcher.
