Jeff Ulbrich’s unusual choice for New York Jets’ Defensive MVP | Sporting News

Between cornerback Sauce Gardner and linebacker Quincy Williams, the New York Jets saw their share of All-Pro performances on defense in 2023.

When it comes to identifying the Jets’ Most Valuable Player on defense, however, veteran punter Thomas Morstead certainly stands out.

“He’s a tremendous weapon. You could make a claim that he was the MVP of the defense last year for all the times that he pinned people inside the 20-yard line, made people have to go the distance on us,” said defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich earlier this week.

After signing with New York in free agency, Morstead was arguably the team’s most-reliable and consistent performer throughout the 2023 campaign. He placed a career-high 36 punts inside the opposing 20, routinely putting the defense in advantageous situations. The Jets finished No. 3 overall amongst NFL team leaders in total defense.

“We really believe as a defense, when you’ve got to go the distance, you’re not getting points, so a guy like him, he’s so integral in our success,” said Ulbrich.

Morstead punted a league-high 99 times, averaging 48.8 yards per boot. The grizzled veteran was magical at times, especially during the 13-10 victory over the New York Giants when he became the first Jets’ punter ever to pin an opponent inside its own 5 thrice in one game.

“He’s a really unique punter. Specialists, and I’ve said this before, they’re semi-isolated and they kind of live in their own world, and that’s normal. He’s one of the rare ones,” said Ulbrich.

The 38-year-old Morstead, who won a Super Bowl as a rookie with the New Orleans Saints, has launched the Punt for ALS campaign heading into the 2024 season.

In honor of former Saints’ special teamer, and current ALS sufferer, Steve Gleason, Morstead will donate $1,000 to the Team Gleason Foundation for every punt that he successfully puts inside the 20-yard line. 

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