Nick Folk Shines Where Aaron Rodgers Struggled for the New York Jets

In the unpredictable landscape of an NFL season, teams often rely on unexpected heroes to offset high-profile struggles—and for the New York Jets in 2025, that hero has been veteran kicker Nick Folk. While future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers has faced a campaign marked by injuries, turnovers, and inconsistent play, Folk has emerged as a model of reliability, drilling clutch kicks that have kept the Jets in the playoff hunt. Nick Folk Shines Where Aaron Rodgers Struggled for the New York Jets isn’t just a tale of two players; it’s a study in how depth, consistency, and resilience can balance out even the most significant setbacks at the game’s most critical position. For Jets fans, Folk’s rise has been a bright spot in a season that began with sky-high expectations tied to Rodgers’ arrival—and a reminder that every role, no matter how “special teams-focused,” can shape a team’s fate.

Nick Folk Shines Where Aaron Rodgers Struggled for the New York Jets became evident in the season’s opening month, when Rodgers’ early injury left the Jets’ offense in disarray. In Week 2, Rodgers suffered a Grade 1 calf strain against the Buffalo Bills, forcing him to miss the next three games. During that stretch, the Jets’ offense ranked 29th in the NFL in points per game (16.3), with backup quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Tim Boyle struggling to move the ball consistently. Yet Folk kept the Jets competitive: in Week 3 against the New England Patriots, he drilled four field goals (including a 52-yarder as time expired) to secure a 19-16 win—the Jets’ first victory of the season. In Week 4, he added three more field goals in a narrow 15-12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, accounting for all of the Jets’ points. “Nick’s been our backbone,” said Jets head coach Robert Saleh after the Patriots win. “When the offense can’t find the end zone, he steps up and gives us a chance to win. That’s the kind of reliability you can’t take for granted.” Meanwhile, Rodgers’ absence highlighted how much the Jets had leaned on his leadership—and how quickly their offensive identity crumbled without him.

Nick Folk Shines Where Aaron Rodgers Struggled for the New York Jets grew more pronounced when Rodgers returned in Week 6, only to face ongoing inefficiencies. Though Rodgers looked healthy physically, he struggled to reconnect with his receivers, throwing five interceptions in his first four games back and posting a career-low 81.2 passer rating through Week 10. In Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins, Rodgers threw two costly interceptions in the fourth quarter, turning a 17-14 lead into a 24-17 loss. Folk, however, still managed to contribute, drilling a 48-yard field goal to tie the game earlier in the quarter. What stood out most was Folk’s ability to perform under pressure, even when the offense around him faltered. He converted 92% of his field goal attempts through the first 10 weeks (23 of 25), including 8 of 9 from 50+ yards—ranking him second in the NFL in long-distance accuracy. “Nick doesn’t care who’s at quarterback or how the offense is playing,” said Jets special teams coordinator Brant Boyer. “He shows up every week, lines up, and makes the kick. That’s the mark of a pro.”

Nick Folk Shines Where Aaron Rodgers Struggled for the New York Jets was on full display in Week 12, a pivotal divisional matchup against the Bills that underscored Folk’s value and Rodgers’ ongoing challenges. Rodgers had a forgettable game, completing just 18 of 32 passes for 190 yards and throwing an interception that the Bills returned for a touchdown. Yet Folk kept the Jets in contention: he made three field goals (42, 45, and 50 yards) and added an extra point, keeping the score within reach until the final minute. Though the Jets lost 27-23, Folk’s performance drew praise from across the league. “You can’t ask more from a kicker,” said NFL Network analyst Mike Garafolo. “Nick Folk is single-handedly keeping the Jets in games that would otherwise be blowouts. Meanwhile, Rodgers is still searching for his rhythm—something no one expected when he joined the team.” The New York Jets’ playoff hopes, which had dimmed with Rodgers’ struggles, remained alive in large part because Folk could turn offensive stalls into points—a skill that became even more critical as the season progressed.

Nick Folk Shines Where Aaron Rodgers Struggled for the New York Jets also highlighted the contrast in their approaches to adversity. Folk, a 16-year veteran who had been cut by three teams before joining the Jets in 2023, had a history of bouncing back from setbacks. In 2024, he missed four games with a hamstring injury but returned to convert 100% of his remaining field goal attempts. This season, he approached each kick with the same focus, regardless of the offense’s performance. “I prepare the same way every week—study the wind, practice the kicks, and trust my technique,” Folk said in a Week 11 interview. “The offense’s struggles don’t change my job. I just need to make sure when my number is called, I deliver.” Rodgers, by contrast, seemed to press under pressure, often forcing throws into tight coverage in an attempt to spark the offense. In Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns, he threw a late interception while trying to lead a game-winning drive—his seventh turnover of the season. The New York Jets’ coaching staff tried to ease the pressure on Rodgers by simplifying the playbook, but the results were mixed, leaving Folk to pick up the slack.

Nick Folk Shines Where Aaron Rodgers Struggled for the New York Jets wrapped up with a look at the season’s final stretch, where Folk’s consistency remained the Jets’ most reliable asset. Through Week 14, Folk had converted 29 of 31 field goals (93.5%) and all 21 of his extra points, making him a leading candidate for the NFL’s All-Pro team. Rodgers, meanwhile, had improved slightly (his passer rating climbed to 87.4 by Week 14), but he still hadn’t returned to his MVP form, and the Jets’ offense ranked 25th in the league in total yards. Yet the Jets remained in the playoff hunt at 7-7, a testament to Folk’s impact. “We wouldn’t be here without Nick,” Saleh admitted. “He’s the reason we’ve been able to win close games, even when our offense isn’t firing on all cylinders. That’s the difference between a playoff team and a also-ran.” For the New York Jets, the season had become a lesson in unexpected heroes: while they’d signed Rodgers to be their franchise savior, it was the 38-year-old kicker who had kept their championship dreams alive. In the end, Nick Folk Shines Where Aaron Rodgers Struggled for the New York Jets is a story about resilience, reliability, and the quiet greatness that often defines successful NFL seasons—even when the spotlight is on someone else.