No one will mistake the NY Jets franchise for the Dallas Cowboys, the Pittsburgh Steelers, or the San Francisco 49ers. You can call it a proud fan base, but you really can't call it a proud history. Despite all that, there are several notable names in Jets history that deserve to be recognized and even honored.
Only five Jets have had their numbers retired. The list includes four Hall-of-Famers, quarterback Joe Namath, wide receiver Don Maynard, running back Curtis Martin, and defensive lineman Joe Klecko. It also includes defensive end Dennis Byrd, who was tragically paralyzed during an infamous play in 1992.
There are likely a few more coming soon. Those are the ones that are expected, but there are also a couple that aren't so expected, and some that still hinge on future outcomes. In no particular order, we take a look at five Jets who might be next to see their numbers retired.
1. Darrelle Revis, CB, NY Jets (No. 24)
This first one is a no-brainer. In terms of overall dominance at his position, Darrelle Revis may rank ahead of any Jet to ever put on the Kelly or Gotham Green. I would argue, and so would plenty of others, that when Revis was at his absolute peak, there was never a cornerback to play the position better than him.
He could could do, quite literally, everything on the field. He had great hands, he was an elite tackler in the open field, he had a genius-level football IQ, and he was the greatest pure cover cornerback to ever live.
Quarterbacks didn't throw to him very often, but when he had the opportunity to snag an interception, he had hands made of glue. For someone not known for many opportunities at interceptions, he has plenty of memorable ones. 2009 against Tom Brady while covering Randy Moss comes to mind.
Another one is his miraculous interception off of Vincent Jackson's foot against Philip Rivers in the 2010 playoffs. Or when he contorted his body to intercept Carson Palmer against Chad Ochocinco in those same playoffs.
He finished his career with 29 interceptions, 496 tackles, and 139 passes defended. But the true greatness of Darrelle Revis cannot be seen in his own statistics.
You have to look at his opponents' statistics to really see what made him special. In 2009 and 2010, his two best seasons, he went up against legends such as Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, Calvin Johnson, and Antonio Brown.
Not one of them cleared four receptions, or 55 total receiving yards. That is just stupid. That doesn't even really make any sense.
He was the anchor of one of the greatest defenses the NFL has seen over the past two and a half decades, and the best player during one of the greatest eras in Jets history. Oh, and he's also a Hall of Famer.
No. 24 should be long retired by now. After all, he had a whole island named after him.
2. Winston Hill, OT, NY Jets (No. 75)
This is a Jets icon that the younger fans may not be 100% well-versed in (hand-up). He's your classic guy who gets lost in the shuffle of time due to his position on the field and lack of memorable moments. But he's also the guy that your father scolds you about for not understanding the importance of.
Drafted out of Texas Southern in 1963, Winston Hill lasted all the way until 1977 in the AFL and NFL. He spent 14 of those seasons with the Jets.
He was a dominant tackle who kept Joe Namath safe, blasted open holes for Emerson Boozer and Matt Snell, and helped lead the Jets to their one and only Lombardi Trophy in 1969. In fact, outside of Namath, one could argue that Hill was the most important player on that team.
He was a world champion, a beloved Jet, and as of 2020 a Hall-of-Famer. As a franchise with only a handful of cherished players and memories, he is more than deserving to be recognized as one of them. No. 75 should be put to bed, forever ingrained in Jets' lore.
3. Nick Mangold, C, NY Jets (No. 74)
If you want to talk about a player who is misremembered by history, look no further than Nick Mangold. When he was selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, he was a pretty highly touted prospect. He wasn't seen as a franchise changer though. Just a really good young center with the potential to be good for a long time.
What he turned out to be, however, was the greatest center on the planet for a decade. The Jets went through a lot of peaks and valleys during his time in New York.
He was drafted into a tough situation with a bad team, and then after just two seasons he was blocking for Brett Favre. Then he was leading the best offensive line in football during the Rex Ryan era, but after just a couple of seasons, he was on one of the worst teams in football.
Through all those ups and downs, through three different head coaches, and through a lot of typical Jets drama, one thing stayed firm and steady: Nick Mangold.
He was, quite simply, better than any other Center in football for almost his entire career. At 6-foot-4 and 300+ pounds, he somehow ran like a gazelle when he had to. He could pancake you or run 30 yards downfield to block you.
He is one of the handful of guys who can say they helped change the culture and bring the Jets to two straight AFC title games. The fact that he is not in the Hall of Fame yet, and the fact that No. 74 wasn't retired years ago, is wild to me.
It shouldn't be long before he gets the praise that he has earned. He is one of the single greatest Jets that has ever lived. It's about time he is recognized as such.
4. Mark Gastineau, DE, NY Jets (No. 99)
Though this is someone who was last relevant close to 40 years ago, even most younger Jets fans can appreciate the significance of Mark Gastineau. A lot of us didn't get to watch him play live, so it's tough to really say just how great he was. But the ones who did will swear to you that he was as good as almost any edge rusher they have seen.
The numbers and accolades do bear it out when you take a look. He finished his career with 107.5 sacks. He was a four-time Pro Bowler, three-time first-team all-pro, and for a while, he held the all-time single-season sack record (22) before Brett Favre handed it to Michael Strahan (real fans get this one). On paper, and on film, he is a Hall-of-Fame level guy.
It's hard to say exactly why Gastineau has been shoved off to the corner of NFL history. A lot of it probably has to do with the fact that he played for one of the more meager franchises during his time. He was only a part of a handful of playoff games, and one he basically lost for the Jets.
Another reason for his ostracization seems to be his antics on the field. He was constantly dancing and taunting his opponents after sacks. He was seen as a "hot dog," or a "show-boat."
These are terms that you hear from irritable parents at Little League baseball games, but it really is how he was talked about. Nowadays, his "sack dances" would be seen as mild compared to what goes on.
He has also had some legal troubles as well, which could play a factor. Though legal issues, right or wrong, have never stopped the NFL from honoring guys in the past.
For whatever reason, Gastineau has been left off of the legends' table. But he is truly an all-time great pass rusher, and definitely an all-time great Jet. It's time No. 99 is retired for good.
5. Aaron Rodgers/Sauce Gardner/Garrett Wilson/Breece Hall
This one speaks for itself, and it's mostly wishful thinking for Jets fans. A lot has to happen for these guys to one day have the honor of seeing their number retired.
For one, they will most likely have to win Super Bowl LIX, at least in Aaron Rodgers' case. Also, aside from Rodgers, they will have to last a long time with the Jets and will have to continue along the path of greatness they are on now.
But if pigs learn to fly in 2024, and the Jets hoist the Lombardi trophy this season, Rodgers' No. 8 should be a lock. And then if any one of Hall, Wilson, or Gardner lasts six or more seasons after their Super Bowl victory, and maintains their current level of play, you could absolutely see No. 20, No. 17, and No. 1 retired one day.
Again, this is all wishful thinking. But other than the previous four guys mentioned on the list, it's tough to see anyone else having their number retired. So that makes the only remaining options current or future Jets. Jets fans certainly hope it is the former.
If the next Jet to have their Jersey retired hasn't even gotten here yet, that means this current regime totally failed, and we will all be waiting a long time for more greatness. Let's hope that's not the case.
Honorable Mentions
Kevin Mawae, C, NY Jets (No. 68)
It is hard to speak so highly of Nick Mangold without mentioning Kevin Mawae. Before Mangold got to the team, the Jets were doing fine at Center. For eight seasons, Mawae was one of the very best centers in the league.
As a Jet, he made six straight Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pros. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2019. He probably wasn't quite as good as Mangold and is not quite as beloved amongst Jets fans as Mangold, but he was a great Jet who deserves a shoutout.
Wayne Chrebet, WR, NY Jets (No. 80)
Talk about a fan favorite. Wayne Chrebet joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Hofstra in 1995. A hometown kid, Chrebet went from being labeled as a "mascot" by Keyshawn Johnson to becoming one of the more revered Jets in history.
I can close my eyes now and see Chrebet on the Meadowlands turf. He's catching a pass over the middle, no gloves and all, and taking a massive hit from a strong safety who is much bigger and stronger than him...only to stand up with the ball secured, handing it to a referee, and jogging back to the huddle.
That was Chrebet and that's why we loved him.
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, LT, NY Jets (No. 60)
We talked a lot about Nick Mangold with regard to those Rex Ryan-era offensive lines, but aside from Mangold, there was another lifetime Jet that helped anchor the line. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, also drafted in 2006, was a Jet from start to finish, retiring in 2013.
If he wasn't the best left tackle in the world for a lot of those years, he was certainly close. He didn't have quite enough impact to see No. 60 retired, but he deserves an honorable mention on this list.
