KN #3

Kene Nwangwu

Running Back · Iowa State

Explosive kick returner and reserve back who has become one of the NFL's most dangerous men in the return game for the Jets.

Kene Nwangwu made his name on special teams, where his straight-line speed has turned routine kickoffs into scoring threats. After breaking in with Minnesota, the Iowa State product found a home with the New York Jets, who leaned on him as a return specialist and depth running back. He re-signed in New York in March 2026.

★ AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (2025)

★ One of 10 players in NFL history with five kickoff return TDs in first five seasons

★ 2021 fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings

Path to the league

Nwangwu played his college football at Iowa State, where he flashed the track speed that defined his pro profile. The Minnesota Vikings drafted him in the fourth round, 119th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. He carved out a role almost immediately as a kick returner, using his burst to flip field position.

Career highlights

Per the New York Jets, Nwangwu ranks among the most prolific kick returners of his era and is one of just 10 players in NFL history to record five kickoff return touchdowns within their first five seasons. Since joining the Jets in 2024, he has posted the league's highest kickoff return average among players with at least 10 returns. His blend of vision and top-end speed makes him a constant threat to break a return the distance.

2025 season

Nwangwu remained a special-teams weapon for the Jets in 2025. According to the team, he averaged 33.6 yards on 18 kick returns, highlighted by a 99-yard return for a touchdown in a 27-20 win over the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 9 that earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He re-signed with New York in March 2026.