Where Are They Now: T.J. Conley

If former Jets punter T.J. Conley hadn’t followed is heart in the beginning, he wouldn’t have played a down of football after high school.

“I broke my leg in the state championship game my senior year, and the doctor said that I probably wouldn’t be able to play any sports ever again,” Conley said. “It was a really bad, bad break. And I just never accepted that. Pushing through that type of adversity at that age, I think really just stuck with me and gave me that mindset that I can accomplish whatever I want if I really put my mind to it.”

Conley’s next accomplishment was playing at the University of Idaho, where he began punting during his sophomore season. Two years later, he was the NCAA’s leading punter with a 47.4-yard average and an AP second-team All-American.

Undrafted in 2009, Conley signed with the Jets as a free agent.

“I kind of had my choice a little bit there, which is a little different than a lot of the guys that get drafted and don’t have much of a choice,” Conley said. “At that time, it was just a really good opportunity. So when I got those calls (from teams) after the draft, and I got that call from the Jets, it seemed like that was definitely the right move.

“(Special teams) Coach (Mike) Westhoff had come out to Moscow, Idaho, and we did a little workout. I loved what he was talking about, loved that he had a ton of experience. And I don’t know, we kind of hit it off.

“I actually didn’t start punting until later on in my college career, so I was still pretty fresh as a punter. He could see the raw talent there. It just needed to be refined. He saw that potential in me. And I’m really glad that he did.”

Conley didn’t make the team in 2009, but when the Jets opened training camp the following year, he was back. And when he didn’t make the team again in 2010, he was back for the 2011 camp. If nothing else, he had perseverance.

“I was blessed with having a lot of good leadership, a lot of good coaches, and some amazing parents that built that growth…