Dunn: Toast of the town, Mr. Irrelevant visits Newport Beach

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 Beach Fire Chief Jeff Boyles, who said Sanchez’s father, Nick, was a fire captain for the Orange County Fire Authority, and that Key’s trip to an Angel game during Irrelevant Week was a nice gift because he “got to see a team with less wins than the Jets.”

Newport Beach Police Sgt. Steve Oberon presented Key with a box of donuts decorated in green and white colors with the Jets’ logo.

Irrelevant Week continued with a Fun Run between the Newport and Balboa piers, a “pizza throw” at 22nd Street Pizza, surfing lessons from world champion surfer Peter Townend and an evening of sailing out of the Balboa Yacht Club.

After Irrelevant Week, the beat will go on for Key, a noted drummer who stays in key performing in his church ensemble, playing mostly gospel music. Further, with an ideal last name for music, Mr. Irrelevant’s hometown of Quincy, Florida, prompts thought of famed Motown artist Quincy Jones.

In addition to online highlights of Key making tackles and interceptions, there’s a YouTube video of Key playing the drums blindfolded.

Throughout Irrelevant Week, Key successfully banged his way through every note, beginning on his first official day as Mr. Irrelevant, racing through the ocean waters off Newport Beach on a jet ski on a warm sunny day without a hint of June gloom. Key didn’t come here to be a star – he brought his star with him.

Richard Dunn, a longtime sportswriter, writes the Dunn Deal column regularly for The Orange County Register’s weekly, The Coastal Current North.