From Broadway Joe to Revis Island: New York Jets' Top 10 Game-Changers (2024)

By Jocelyn Alano August 29, 2024 21:35

Photo by Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The Jets, originally the New York Titans founded in 1959, have a long history as pro football's most interesting franchise. The franchise has experienced highs and lows, from its only Super Bowl victory to many years of mediocrity. This journey has produced a few players who became game changers who wrote their names indelibly in the history of this team. In this piece, we look at the ten most important and impactful players in Jets history and what they did for the franchise on different levels.

1. Joe Namath

No discussion of Jets history is complete without an allusion to "Broadway Joe" Namath. Brought in as the Jets' first-ever overall pick in 1965, Namath became a cultural icon almost immediately and certainly the face of New York's franchise.

Career Highlights:

• Won Super Bowl III
• The first professional QB to throw for 4,000 yards in a season
• 4-time AFL All-Stars and 2-time AFL MVP
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

You cannot overstate Namath's influence on the Jets and professional football. His guarantee and then Super Bowl MVP delivered the only championship for Gang Green, but it also helped make the AFL a legitimate force in merging with the NFL. Namath's 'it factor' put the Jets on the map as a team anyone cared about in New York.

2. Don Maynard

Namath's go-to wide receiver in the 1960s 'Aerial Assault' for Gang Green, Don Maynard.

Career Highlights:

• The first player in pro football to get 10,000 receiving yards
• Four-time AFL All-Star
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee

Maynard had sure hands and ran precise routes, creating a constant threat on the field. The Jets would not have won the championship without his chemistry with Namath.

3. Curtis Martine

Curtis Martin arrived in the Jets' backfield in 1998 and was foundational to their offense.

Career Highlights:

• Five-time Pro Bowl selection with the Jets
• Finished as the NFL rushing leader in 2004 at age 31

• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee

His consistency and durability made him one of the NFL's most reliable ball carriers. Off the field, his leadership set a tone of professionalism for everyone in the Jets organization.

4. Darrelle Revis

Darrelle Revis could take an opposing receiver and put him on 'Revis Island.'

Career Highlights:

• Seven-time Pro Bowler
• Four-time First-team All-Pro
• 2009: 1st in NFL, Passes Defended

Opponents' game-planning against the Jets fundamentally changed, with Revis taking away half of it. His presence freed up the defense, allowing it to be even more aggressive and creative. He knew that if the most dangerous receiver from an opposing offense came out, there would be a lockdown corner who could take care of business.

5. Joe Klecko

The 1980s foursome, known as the "New York Sack Exchange," included Joe Klecko, integral to one of the four starting defensive linemen inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Career Highlights:

• Pro Bowl selection for defensive end, defensive tackle, and nose tackle
• 1981: 1985 first-team All-Pro
• 1981: Led the NFL with 20.5 sacks

His versatility and ability to inflict damage at multiple positions along the defensive line would have made him a nightmare for opposing offenses.His knack for destabilizing plays from multiple spots helped the Jets thrive in his time there.

6. Mark Gastineau

Mark Gastineau was part of the "New York Sack Exchange," one of its most colorful personalities used his unrelenting pass rush.

Career Highlights:

• Five-time Pro Bowl selection
• First-team All-Pro: '81-'85
• 1984: Single-season sack record of 22 (now broken)

When Gastineau would reach the quarterback, he changed games and made opponents adjust their offensive game plans. His sack celebrations made him an icon, bringing flair to the toon of how good the Jets' defense was.

7. Wayne Chrebet

Wayne Chrebet is the ultimate underdog, from undrafted free agent to fan favorite.

Career Highlights:

• He holds down second place in Jets history for receptions (580) and third with his 7,365 career receiving yards.
• In an 11-year career, he caught 41 passes for touchdowns.

His rise to stardom seemed more than merely winning with the ball; it inspired his teammates and forged a connection that every fan could relate to, making him not just literally but figuratively, both onand off the field.

8. Nick Mangold

For over a decade, Nick Mangold was the anchor of the Jets' offensive line and has provided stability and leadership at the center.

Career Highlights:

• Seven-time Pro Bowl selection
• Two-time First-team All-Pro
• Sarted174 games for the Jets

Mangold was among the best centers of his generation because of his intelligence, technique, and durability. For the Jets' offense to work well in his time, he needed to read defenses and make adjustments before the snap.

9. Kevin Mawae

The previous benchmark for the Jets at center was Kevin Mawae.

Career Highlights:

• Six-time Pro Bowl when with the Jets
• All-Pro First-team: 2015-16
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee

With Mawae's guidance and brainpower, the Jets created one of football's top offensive lines. His ability to pull and block at the second level added another layer of complexity to the blocking designs for their running game.

10. Al Toon

Though concussions limited Al Toon's career, he left his mark in the seven seasons he'd be with the Jets.

Career Highlights:

• Three-time Pro Bowl selection
• First-team All-Pro in 1986
• Caught an NFL-leading 93 balls in 1988.

Toon's smooth route-running and dependable hands endeared him to Jets quarterbacks. His knack for hard catches in traffic and YAC made him an incredible asset to the Jets' passing attack.

These ten players are the best of the Jets' all-time greats, and for very different reasons managed to make their mark in franchise lore. From Namath's guarantee to Revis' shutdown coverage, toKlecko being a versatile monster, these difference makers laid the foundation for what it means to wear green and white. They are part of what makes this particular Jets team matter to its fanbase. While the Jets are starting fresh, these legends have set a standard for greatness and what this organization can be when transformative talent like them comes along.

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