There has never been a more appropriate Mr. Irrelevant “key to the city” recipient than former University of Alabama safety and New York Jets last-pick draftee Jaylen Key.
Honored, roasted and toasted throughout the 49th Irrelevant Week, Key was awarded a key to the city by Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill at the Lowsman Trophy banquet at The Cannery in Newport Beach, as well as given gifts, proclamations and advice from former players as he prepares for his first NFL training camp.
“The standard for Mr. Irrelevant started out as trying to make the team, but the new Mr. Irrelevant standard is not just making the team, but being a productive member of the team,” said 14-year NFL veteran Matt Willig, a reference to the last four honorees, who have gone on to play significant snaps in the NFL, including 2022 Mr. Irrelevant, San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy.
Willig, now an actor who has starred in several feature films and television roles, played for seven NFL teams, including the Jets, which selected Key with the 257th and final choice in the 2024 draft.
In addition to Purdy, recent Mr. Irrelevant honorees Desjuan Johnson (Rams, 2023), Grant Stuard (Buccaneers, 2021) and Tae Crowder (Giants, 2020) have helped elevate the standard for the celebrated final pick with noteworthy NFL moments.
Key said he’s “very (confident)” he can crack the Jets’ roster when the NFL season starts in September.
At the banquet, emceed by Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster John Ireland, Key received the Lowsman Trophy from 2003 Mr. Irrelevant Ryan Hoag. The trophy is the so-called cousin to the Heisman Trophy, only the Lowsman bronze figurine depicts a football player fumbling the ball.
Former Jets quarterback and Fox Sports broadcaster Mark Sanchez was among those honoring Key. “I would like to welcome Jaylen Key to the Big Apple, but it will be a significant pay decrease now that he’s leaving Alabama,” Sanchez quipped.
Key was also toasted by Newport…
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