We know who the greatest New York Jets players are of all-time, but what about the most beloved? Today, we rank the top seven.
Why even attempt to put together a “greatest New York Jets” of all-time? We all know the usual suspects and who comes out as the top dog of them all.
Though a great case can be made Don Maynard Should rank No. 1, it’s Joe Willie Namath who still holds the crown. That Super Bowl 3 moment was just too spectacular and meaningful for the game of football to ignore.
So forget greatest of all-time. Let’s move on to the heart, instead, with the most “beloved” Jets in organizational history.
Notables
- Freeman McNeil
- Don Maynard
- Matt Snell
- Vinny Testaverde
- Chad Pennington
- Ken O’Brien
- Al Toon
- Mo Lewis
- Dennis Byrd
- Kevin Mawae
- Emerson Boozer
- Gerry Philbin
- Larry Grantham
- Darrelle Revis
It’s extremely awkward to leave names such as Don Maynard, Freeman McNeil and Al Toon off the list, but hey, there are only seven spots. Maynard, especially, receives a raw deal due to the fact his era came so long ago and he was overshadowed by Joe Willie (despite finishing with better pure football numbers).
What’s tough to believe is the last name on the notables list, Darrelle Revis.
At his height, Revis represented, arguably, the greatest cover-corner in NFL history. That’s no joke. His 2009-10 form was as good it gets this side of Deion Sanders. In terms of greatest Jets of all-time, there’s no chance he could ever slip past No. 5 and, if the proper arguments are in-line, could find himself as high as No. 2.
This is a different list.
As great as Revis was is as tricky as his relationship is with the loyal fanbase. He was a money man. He was a businessman. Always out for the other green while playing in green. Though nobody can ever get on an NFL player for seeking that dough (which usually comes as non-guaranteed), it will affect that player to fanbase relationship.
As time marches on, this specific relationship will only get better.
