Thomas Morstead speaks with Jets owner Woody Johnson before a game.
New York Jets
FLORHAM PARK — As punters go, Thomas Morstead has had himself a heck of an NFL career. In his first season, he helped the New Orleans Saints win their first Super Bowl in franchise history thanks to a key onside kick to start the second half that shifted momentum.
Morstead hasn’t been back in the big game since that year, but as he prepares for his 15th NFL season with the New York Jets, he believes this year’s group is as strong a team as he’s ever been on.
“It’s not about what you say, it’s about what you do,” Morstead told AMNY. “My expectations are that everyone works as hard as they can so we can maximize whatever we can become.”
Morstead on his return to the Jets
This isn’t Morstead’s first stint with the Jets this season. Back in 2021, he replaced an injured Braden Mann and performed admirably for Gang Green for seven games. In those seven games, he averaged 48.2 yards per punt, a personal best for him since 2016.
Once Mann got healthy, the Jets released Morstead but the 37-year-old punter came away impressed with how the front office treated him.
“I knew what the deal was when I got here,” Morstead explained. “They were clear about (filling in for Braden). It was a great opportunity to get my foot back in the door after being released by the Saints in 2020. Joe Douglas was great and kept things clear with me…I had a great relationship here.”
Morstead also touted the relationship he has cultivated with long snapper Thomas Hennessy and Brant Boyer as reasons for wanting to come back to New York for a second time. Now, he joins kicker Greg Zuerlein to form a dynamic special teams group – something the Jets have not had in a very long time. Like most position groups for New York in 2023, the expectations are there for each group to potentially have multiple Pro Bowl players.
“I certainly feel like we have outstanding resumes…
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