Mr. Irrelevant will go jet skiing when he is in Orange County in a couple of weeks.
He is, after all, a Jet.
Jaylen Key was the last player selected in the NFL Draft in April when the New York Jets took him with the 257th and final choice of the draft. That makes Key the latest Mr. Irrelevant, the star of Irrelevant Week that begins June 23.
Irrelevant Week was started in 1976 by Paul Salata, who played at USC and in the NFL and had some bit parts in a few major motion pictures before becoming a prominent businessman in the construction field. He also was known as the consummate banquet host.
Salata’s energetic philanthropic work continues through Irrelevant Week that annually raises money for charitable organizations. Irrelevant Week has raised more than $1 million for local groups during its history. This year’s Irrelevant Week fundraising benefits Children’s Hospital of Orange County and The Orange County Youth Sports Foundation.
Mr. Irrelevant Jaylen Key of Alabama makes the tackle on Michigan tight end Colston Loveland during this past Rose Bowl Game. Key will be in Orange County for Irrelevant Week activities this month. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Key, the No. 257 pick of the NFL Draft, played safety at Alabama. He played in only the 2023 season for Alabama, having transferred there from University of Alabama-Birmingham. Key had 60 tackles in ‘23 with one interception.
The best-known Mr. Irrelevant is Brock Purdy. The final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy became the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback part way into the ‘22 season and last year led the 49ers to a second-consecutive NFC West championship and to the Super Bowl. Last year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Desjuan Johnson, still is on the roster of the Rams who made him the 2023 final pick.
Key’s busy Irrelevant Week begins June 23 in Irvine at Mariners Church where he will attend morning services. Then comes the jet skiing.
Also included is the Angels game against Oakland at Angel Stadium the evening of June 24, a boxing workout at American Gym in Irvine on June 25, and the Irrelevant Week Lowsman Banquet the evening of June 25 at The Cannery in Newport Beach.
Key will be a featured in-studio guest on the Fox Sports Network on June 26. That night is a Fun Run between the piers hosted by the Newport Run Club. June 27 is a surf-and-sun day at Newport Beach. Key gets surfing lessons at 30th street at 9 a.m. followed by a barbecue celebration.
Key also meets with Newport Beach junior lifeguards at the Balboa Pier on June 27 and, like many previous Mr. Irrelevants, that afternoon will be on board the 48-foot sailboat Amante for a Beer Can Summer Series race that evening in Newport Harbor followed by a barbecue at the Balboa Yacht Club to conclude Irrelevant Week.
Irrelevant Week chairperson Melanie Salata Fitch, who announces the final pick at the NFL Draft like her father Paul Salata did for decades, said Key is bringing along some family members.
“Jaylen’s very excited about coming out here,” she said. “He’s bringing his dad and two sisters with him, too. The girls have never been to California, and Jaylen and his Dad were here only once, and that was for the 2024 Rose Bowl when Alabama played there.”
Alabama lost to Michigan 27-20 in the Rose Bowl Game this past Jan. 1.
Newport Beach philanthropists Anne and John Wortmann will receive the “Paul Salata/Hero Beyond the Hash Marks” award for his work in the community.
Banquet tickets and donation opportunities are available at mrirrelevant.org/banquet.
