The New York Jets have named Jason Sanders their starting kicker for the upcoming NFL season, concluding a preseason competition that special teams coordinator Chris Banjo described as uninspiring. Sanders, who missed the entirety of the previous season due to a hip injury and was cut by the Giants earlier this year, has won the job over Cade York.
York will be waived by the team as rosters are trimmed to 53 players by Sunday. The decision comes after a kicking battle that did not generate significant optimism. Sanders himself missed three of his five kicks during practice on Monday, capping the evaluation period.
"We feel really, really good about what Jason is and where we are with him right now," Banjo stated, emphasizing Sanders' experience in the AFC East division. Banjo also downplayed concerns about the 30-year-old kicker's range, referencing his past performance in significant moments.
The Jets previously allowed veteran kicker Nick Folk to leave in free agency. Prior to Folk's successful return late last season, when he converted 28 of 29 field goals and all extra points, the team experienced considerable turnover at the position. For now, the kicking duties belong to Sanders, who has reportedly recovered from the hip injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025 season.
"You look at his pedigree, what he’s been able to do in big moments — like I said, in our division," Banjo added. "You get to be around that all offseason, throughout training camp, throughout this evaluation process, it starts to build more confidence and more conviction for who he is as a player."
Despite Sanders securing the starting role, the Jets could potentially explore other kicking options as more players become available following final roster cuts around the league. However, with the stated confidence in Sanders, the immediate focus is on his ability to perform consistently for Gang Green.