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Former New York Jets placekicker Nick Folk reacting after a huge play during an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons.
This offseason, the New York Jets lost placekicker Nick Folk to the Atlanta Falcons.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini revealed the real reason that transpired in a column posted on Sunday, March 15.
“Here’s what happened, according to people familiar with the situation. Folk wanted to remain in New York. The Jets, mindful of his age (41), offered a one-year contract. No word on the amount, but it probably was similar to what he made last season on a one-year deal ($3.25 million, including incentives),” Cimini explained.
“The Falcons offered two years, $9 million, about half of which is guaranteed. They also play indoors and in the comfy confines of the NFC South. Who can blame Folk for accepting the Atlanta deal?,” Cimini wrote.
“And the Jets lost their best player,” Pardon My Meme responded after Folk signed with the Falcons.
“This one is going to sting in Florham Park,” Brian Costello of the New York Post wrote.
“Folk hero takes his talents to Atlanta. The Jets need a new kicker again,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic said.
“Don’t know why the Jets couldn’t just bring him back 😔,” ESPN radio host Jake Asman posted.
Jets’ Penny Pinching Could Come Back to Bite Them
The green and white entered free agency with the fourth most cap space in the NFL. If the Jets wanted to sign someone on the open market, money was no object.
So the Jets wanted Folk, and Folk wanted to return? Yet he left and joined a new team this offseason.
Folk is making $4.5 million per season on his new deal with Atlanta. That $4.5 million annual salary ranks No. 13 among the highest-paid placekickers in the NFL, per Over The Cap.
“The question is whether the Jets underestimated Folk’s staying power. It’ll be fascinating to see it unfold, because he has shown no signs of slippage. The Jets responded by signing the inconsistent Cade York. They also have Lenny Krieg, 23, a German native who kicked in the German Football League,” Cimini wrote.
Folk Has Been Real and Spectacular
The former Arizona product was one of the oldest players in the league last season at 41. However, he showed no signs of slowing down any time soon.
For the third consecutive year, he led the entire league in field goal conversion rate.
Over the last three years, he has gone 78-of-81 on his field goal attempts (96%), only having missed three kicks.
The Jets have been a turnstile at placekicker. Since Folk left the team (the first time) in 2016, the team has had 15 kickers (h/t “Flight Plan” podcast):
In 2025, Folk temporarily ended the madness. However, it proved to be a one-year stop. Now the Jets will jump back on the placekicking carousel.
Special teams coordinator Chris Banjo had a kicker plan early last offseason. After some poor results from his initial choice, he pivoted to sign Folk days into training camp.
He might need that same level of magic to find a solution this year.
Paul Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.
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