New York Jets: 7 most beloved players in franchise history

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.

7. Nick Mangold

We begin the big show with Nikky.

Nick Mangold, the man who was drafted late in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft anchored the best offensive line in football for several seasons. Seven Pro Bowl appearances and two First-Team All-Pro nods (2009-10) are evidence enough that he is, arguably, the greatest offensive lineman in franchise history. His competitors come by way of Kevin Mawae and Winston Hill.

On the beloved meter scale, no lineman can touch him. His Twitter activity and overall goofy personality top them all.

6. Mark Gastineau

The question is, “Whose dance is most famous though the man couldn’t dance worth a lick?”

The answer is, “Mark Gastineau.”

Fans adored this guy.

Coming into the league as a second-round selection out of Arizona State, Gastineau made his mark in the 1981 season with a Pro Bowl nod. Unnoficially, Gastineau raked in 20 sacks, only 0.5 shy of teammate Joe Klekco.

In total, the Jets famed New York Sack Exchange, their defensive line consisting of Gastineau, Klecko, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam, sacks the quarterback 66 times.

Three years later in 1984, Gastineau set the new NFL single-season bar with 22 sacks.

Though his fall came just as hard as his rise, Gastineau will forever remain a beloved Jet.

5. Curtis Martin

The assets relented to acquire this man from the New England Patriots were rich, yet well worth it. Bill Parcells knew it all along.

Curtis Martin is the team’s all-time leading rusher. Better yet, he’s the team’s all-time leading professional.

Never a bad word, thought or action from My Favorite Martin through his eight seasons in New York and it’s lead to completely admiration on the part of the fans.

4. Wesley Walker

One word: Cyclops.

Legally blind in his left eye, Wesley Walker finished his career with the New York Jets as the second most proficient as his position. With 8,306 yards and 71 touchdowns through the air, only Dan Maynard tops him.

His other half (for much of the 1980s), Al Toon, was equally as loved. Concussions, however, derailed the length of time Toon had with the fanbase.

Walker played 13 seasons in the NFL, all with the Jets.

3. Joe Klecko

It’s insane to think Joe Klecko is third on the list, but here we are.

Joe Klecko continues to represent the greatest Pro Football Hall of Fame snub in the game today. In 11 years with the Jets, officially, he tallied just 24 sacks. However, his number grows a ton as it pertains to all of the sacks racked up during the unofficial era from 1977 through 1981.

For example, in ’81, he finished with 20.5 sacks.

Klecko represents one of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history and part of the reason he is so beloved is that he’d do anything for the team. No man in the history of the sport has ever made the Pro Bowl at all three defensive line designations: DE, DL, NT. In 1985, he paled nose tackle at 260 pounds out of necessity for the team and finished a First-Team All-Pro member.

The top two most beloved Jets of all-time better be good to beat out Joe Klecko.

2. Wayne Chrebet

Yes, it’s Wayne-O.

When roaming MetLife Stadium these days on a green-colored Sunday, No. 80 still floats about more than any previous Jets player—including No. 12.

Wayne Chrebet represents everything to the little guy. He’s not just a football player. He’s a symbol. He’s motivation. He’s inspiration.

When Rich Kotite says “get chevet” in there during the preseason of 1995, that moment in time called out the lone positive of the Kotite era. In allowing a short, little-known local walk-on from Hofstra to make the squad was a sensation.

In 11 seasons, Chrebet finished with 7,365 yards and 41 touchdowns through the air. Most notable was his slot presence and fearless ways through the middle of the defense. He’s paying those consequences now (through numerous concussions), but it’s simply another reason why the fanbase adores him.

Garfield’s own Wayne Chrebet is the second-most beloved New York Jets player of all-time.

1. Joe Namath

It must be Joe Willie. As beloved as both Wayne Chrebet and Joe Klekco remain, Joe Namath’s impact on not only the Jets as an organization, but the NFL as a whole travel beyond words.

He owns the guarantee. He owns the golden arm. He owns the single moment the NFL and AFL stopped waging war against one another and came together.

And, of course, he owns the ladies and the nightlife, that first mythical athlete who combined sports and pop culture so brilliantly.

After all, he was just “trying to get by.”