John Jett is a former American football punter in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions.
Education
Jett attended Northumberland High School where he played football and baseball, receiving All-State honors as a pitcher and outfielder. He graduated after recording two of the three best single season averages in school history, setting the records for career punting average (400) and yards-per-punt average in a season (422).
Career
He played college football for East Carolina University. Although Jett came to East Carolina University as an unrecruited walk-on athlete, he became a 4-year starter at Punter. In 2007, he was inducted into the East Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame.
Minnesota Vikings
Jett was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 1992 and was released before the start of the season.
Dallas Cowboys
He finished the year with a 41.8 yards gross average, third in the NFC in Netto punting average (377) and led the league in percentage of punts downed inside the 20-yard line (393%). In 1994, he had a gross average of 41.9 yards (sixth in the NFC), led the league in percentage of punts downed inside the 20-yard line (371%) and his 26 punts that landed inside the 20-yard line were the third highest ever in franchise history.
In 1995, he had a gross average of 40.9 yards and a Netto average of 34.5. The next year he was fourth in the NFC in Netto average (368 yards).
During his time with the team, he led the NFL in punts inside the 20 yard-line for four straight seasons.
Detroit Lions
Jett was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Lions in 1997, after the salary cap-strapped Cowboys could not afford to re-sign him. In 2000, he was named as an alternate to the Pro Bowl. He missed three games with a calf injury in 2001.
The next year he was second in the NFC in Netto average (38 yards), sixth in gross average (422 yards) and third in punts inside the 20-yard line (29).
On October 30, 2003, he was placed on the injured reserve list, with what turned out to be a career-ending calf injury. He currently lives in Northumberland County, Virginia, and has served on the County School Board.
He also helps his father, Jack Jett, with his marina business.