Falcons Sign Former All-Pro and Pro Bowl Return Specialist Jamal Agnew
The Atlanta Falcons have signed former returner and receiver Jamal Agnew to a one-year contract worth up to $2.5 million, continuing their focus on strengthening their special teams unit.
This move comes after the Falcons lost their primary returner, Avery Williams, to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. Agnew, who turns 30 on April 3, was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent his first four seasons in Detroit, where his final two years coincided with Marquice Williams’ time as the Lions’ assistant special teams coach. Marquice Williams is now the Falcons’ special teams coordinator.
At 5’10” and 190 pounds, Agnew began his career as a defensive back and return specialist who also played as a receiver. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in his rookie season in 2017, after returning 29 punts for 447 yards and two touchdowns, averaging a league-leading 15.4 yards per return. He also had 10 tackles and returned 11 kickoffs for 196 yards.
In 2018, Agnew’s season was limited to six games due to a knee injury, where he returned 12 punts for 57 yards and eight kickoffs for 216 yards.
When Marquice Williams arrived in 2019, Agnew had a standout season. He returned a punt for a touchdown, added his first career kick return touchdown, and averaged 9.2 yards per punt return and 26.7 yards per kick return.
By 2020, Agnew was becoming more involved in the offense, catching 13 passes for 89 yards, rushing six times for 33 yards, and returning another punt for a touchdown while posting a career-high 28 yards per kickoff return.
Agnew signed a three-year, $14.25 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021, which ended his time with Williams. However, Williams spoke highly of Agnew before the Falcons played the Jaguars in the 2023 season, praising Agnew’s leadership, dual return ability, and dynamic speed.
Over three seasons with the Jaguars, Agnew earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2022. In 36 games, he returned 50 punts for 423 yards (8.5 yards per return) and 58 kickoffs for 1,463 yards (25.2 yards per return). He also contributed offensively, making 61 receptions for 641 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing 23 times for 195 yards and one touchdown.
Agnew suffered a lower leg fracture in Week 17 of the 2023 season, which caused him to miss the 2024 campaign. He spent the second half of the year on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad. Now healthy, Agnew joins the Falcons with six offensive touchdowns, four punt return touchdowns, two kickoff return touchdowns, and a field goal return score, along with a strong relationship with Marquice Williams.
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