Jets Hire Colts Assistant Brant Boyer As New Special Teams Coach

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Brant Boyer will have his work cut out for him.

The former NFL linebacker and current assistant coach with the Indianapolis Colts was hired by the Jets on Wednesday as their new special teams coordinator, replacing Bobby April, who was fired in early January.

Boyer, who has been the Colts' assistant special teams coach for the last four seasons, takes over a unit that was ranked 24th in the league this season. New York gave up two touchdowns on punt returns, another on a blocked punt and one more on a fumbled kickoff.

The Jets also had all kinds of trouble establishing good field position due to poor kickoff and punt returns. There was a revolving door at kick returner because of injuries, with Chris Owusu, Zac Stacy, Devin Smith, Bilal Powell and Antonio Cromartie working at the spot.

Punter Ryan Quigley was inconsistent in his third season with the Jets, finishing near the bottom of the league with a 36.5 net average and 43.8 gross average.

New York also lost kicker Nick Folk midway through the season with a quadriceps injury, leading to the Jets signing Randy Bullock, who missed three field goals and an extra point.

Boyer, who is no stranger to the rigors of the NFL having played for three teams from 1994-2003, becomes the Jets' fourth special teams coach since Mike Westhoff retired in 2012.

Boyer's previous coaching experience includes stints as a training camp coach with the Cleveland Browns in 2009 and the Giants in 2010.

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