The Jets have been blessed to feature some excellent kick returners and punt returners throughout their 60 year history. We know the names: Bruce Harper, Chad Morton, Leon Washington, Brad Smith, Justin Miller, Joe McKnight, Andre Roberts, and now, Braxton Berrios. But one name from the 1980's gets constantly overlooked and his name is Jo-Jo Townsell.
Townsell played his college ball at UCLA, along with future Jets teammates Freeman McNeil and Johnny Lynn. Drafted by the Jets in 1983, but decided not to come to New York immediately. Instead, he signed with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL, where he played from 1983 to 1985. Being a Nevada native and California resident, the opportunity to play closer to home appealed to him, but he was also partial to playing in a stadium with natural grass as opposed to artificial turf.
After two years in the USFL, Townsell signed with the Jets, where he played his entire NFL career from 1985 to 1990. In that time, he totaled 70 receptions for 1,119 receiving yards and five touchdowns. His best year as a wide receiver was 1989 when he had 45 catches for 787 yards and five touchdowns, so that's right, all of his receiving touchdowns were in one season.
Most of his value came in the return game. He had 127 punt returns for 1,360 return yards and three touchdowns. As a kick returner, he had 98 returns for 2,048 yards and one score. His highlight season was in 1986, where he averaged 13 yards per punt return and 24.8 yards per kick return
Following his retirement in 1991, Townsell returned to the Reno, NV area, where in 1997, he found the non-profit MEFIYI. Standing for Me-For-Incredible-Youth, Inc. Its mission is to promote, encourage and support amateur athletics, recreation programs, and physical fitness for students.
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