New York Jets Dream Team

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the

game being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests that

players from different eras cannot be compared. However, I have decided

to defy that notion. 

Considering that the New York Jets were founded in 1959, the task

becomes quite challenging. Today, I have taken on the daunting task of

compiling an All-Time Jets team. The Jets are an original AFL team that

began as the New York Titans. The franchise’s crowning moment was its

1968 Super Bowl III win over the Baltimore Colts, 16-7. The Colts were

an 18-point favorite. The Jets, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay

Buccaneers are the only franchises to reach one Super Bowl and win it.

The Jets, however, have only reached the AFC Championship Game

four times (1982, 1988, 2009, 2010). 

In a sense, the Jets are a cursed franchise because the New York Giants

have more established history. Also, after Bill Parcels resigned after the

1999 season, defensive coordinator Bill Belichick was named the head

coach but resigned after six days. Belichick later became the head coach

of the division rival New England Patriots, whom he led to six Super

Bowl championships. 

There are some rigid criteria in making this team. The player needed to

have played at least four seasons as a Jet. Since the free agency era began

30 years ago, that standard needs to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t

make this list. Being in the Hall of Fame is the first consideration coupled

with impact on the franchise. The number of All-Pro seasons are a top

consideration with longevity also helping immensely. While I understand

it is hard to compare eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

All eras matter. Being on the 1968 Super Bowl winning team does not get

you a hall pass on this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level

performers get considered. 

To further the challenge, we are constructing the roster in two-deep format,

which means some worthy players get left off the list. So, before you make

a case to put someone on the list, ask yourself, “Who do I take off the list

at that position?”  

OFFENSE

QB -- First team: Joe Namath. Honorable mention: Ken O’Brien.

Decades after taking his last snap, Namath remains a New York icon. He

was most famous for guaranteeing that the Jets would beat the heavily-

favored Colts in Super Bowl III, which they did. Namath is a Hall of

Famer, four-time AFL All-Star, two-time AFL MVP, All Pro in 1972 and

became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 4,000

yards. O’Brien holds most of the Jets passing records but his best football

came in 1985. That season, O’Brien was the AFC Player of the Year and

a Pro Bowler. O’Brien also made the Pro Bowl in 1991. 

RB -- First team: Curtis Martin, Freeman McNeil. Honorable mention: 

Matt Snell, Emerson Boozer.

Martin is a Hall of Famer and one of the best multi-dimensional running

backs in NFL history. Martin is No. 5 on the NFL’s all-time career rushing

yardage list and caught 484 passes. Martin spent his first three seasons with

the Patriots and his remaining nine with the Jets. Martin was a five-time Pro

Bowler and two-time All Pro. McNeil played 13 seasons but in the mid-to-

late 80s formed a solid two-headed attack with Johnny Hector. McNeil is

the franchise’s No. 2 all-time leader in career rushing yardage. He led the

NFL in rushing in 1982. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All

Pro. In nine seasons, Snell was the AFL Rookie of the Year in 1964, three-

time AFL All Star and member of the 1968 Super Bowl champions. His

defining moment came in the Super Bowl III win. Snell carried 30 times

for 121 yards and a touchdown. Boozer was an outstanding open field

runner who could break tackles. Boozer was a two-time AFL All Star, led

the AFL in rushing touchdowns in 1967 and was a member of the 1968

Super Bowl champions. 

FB -- First team: John Riggins. Honorable mention: Richie Anderson.

Riggins is most known for his years as a Washington Redskin but he was

still impactful in his five seasons as a Jet. He belongs somewhere on this

team. Riggins became the first Jet in franchise history to surpass the 1,000

yard rushing mark in a single season. Anderson was a versatile fullback

for a decade and saw franchise highs and lows between 1993-2002.

Anderson played a role as a lead blocker for Martin’s Hall of Fame career

and caught 400 passes in his career. His best season was 2000 when he

reached the Pro Bowl, catching 88 passes. 

WR -- First team: Don Maynard, Wesley Walker. Honorable mention: 

Al Toon, Wayne Chrebet.

Maynard became the first player to sign with the New York Titans, who

later became the Jets. Maynard is a Hall of Famer, was a four-time AFL

All-Star and played a vital role on the Jets 1968 Super Bowl winning

team. At the time of retirement, he was the NFL’s all-time leader in

receptions, yardage and touchdowns. Walker might be the most electrifying

player to wear a Jets uniform. Despite being legally blind in one eye, Walker

is the best receiver in franchise history after Maynard. For his career Walker

averaged 19.0 yards per catch. Part of Toon’s legacy is “what might have

been” as multiple concussions cut his career short after eight seasons.

Nonetheless, Toon had an impactful career as he was both Pro Bowl

participant and All Pro three straight years (1986-1988). You’d have to

look long and hard to find a more compelling story that Chrebet, who at

5-10 was not physically imposing. He made the team in 1995 as an

undrafted free agent to become one of the best receivers in franchise

history. Chrebet is third in both receiving yards and touchdowns. He is

second in receptions. 

TE -- First team: Mickey Shuler. Honorable mention: Rich Caster.

Shuler played 12 seasons with the Jets from 1978-1989 and remains No.

3 in franchise history in receptions. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and

two-time All Pro. He frequently took advantage of teams overly concerned

with Toon and Walker. Shuler is second in franchise history for most

consecutive games with at least one reception (86). Caster played 13 years

with four different teams but his best football came as a Jet from 1970-1977.

Caster made the Pro Bowl on three occasions. 

OT -- First team:  Winston Hill, Marvin Powell. Honorable mention: 
D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Jumbo Elliott.

For 14 years as a Jet, Hill was a great pass protector for Namath and opened

many holes for Emerson Boozer, Matt Snell and John Riggins. Hill was

part of the 1968 Super Bowl team. Hill is a Hall of Famer, four-time AFL

All Star, four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All NFL. Powell enjoyed a

stellar nine year career from 1977-1985, during which time he was a five-

time Pro Bowler and three-time All Pro. Ferguson was an incredible stalwart

for a decade from 2006-2015. Ferguson had excellent athleticism and was a

three-time Pro Bowler. He was also a big reason for the team reaching back-

to-back AFC Title Games. Elliott signed as a free agent, helping the Jets go

from 1-15 in 1996 to the AFC Championship Game two years later. Elliott

was a solid starter for six years at left tackle. 

OG -- First team:  Randy Rasmussen, Dave Herman. Honorable mention:

Jim Sweeney, Brandon Moore.

Rasmussen and Herman were an outstanding guard tandem. Rasmussen

played in three decades for the Jets (1967-1981). Though he never earned

Pro Bowl honors, he was the definition of reliable, playing 207 games, second

most in franchise history. Rasmussen was the last Jet to retire from the 1968

Super champions. Herman played from 1964-1973 and was All-AFL three

times. He was also a member of the 1968 Super Bowl champions. Sweeney

was nothing spectacular but a solid performer for 11 seasons (1984-1994).

In the mid-to-late 80s, the Jets had some well-balanced offenses. Sweeney

started 158 consecutive games. Moore went from undrafted free agent to

ten-year stalwart. Moore made just one Pro Bowl (2011) but deserved many

more as he was one of the best guards in the league during his generation.

Moore started 142 of 144 games. 

C -- First team: Kevin Mawae. Honorable mention: Nick Mangold.

With Mawae and Mangold, the Jets had consecutive great centers. Mawae

played 16 years with three different teams but his eight years with the Jets

were his best. Mawae is a Hall of Famer, eight-time Pro Bowler and seven-

time All Pro. Mawae started 177 consecutive games. Mangold was a Jet for

his entire 11 year career. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All

Pro. 

DEFENSE

DE -- First team: Mark Gastineau, John Abraham. Honorable mention:

Gerry Philbin, Shaun Ellis.

Sacks were not an official stat until 1982 but Gastineau and Joe Klecko

formed the “New York Sack Exchange.” Gastineau set a single-season

record for sacks (22), which Michael Strahan later broke. Gastineau recorded

107.5 career sacks, which at the time was an NFL record. Gastineau was a

five-time All Pro and five-time Pro Bowler. Abraham played 15 years with

three different teams. His first six were as a Jet, where he was a three-time Pro

Bowler and two-time All Pro. Abraham was the Jets last great pass rusher.

He recorded 133.5 sacks and 46 forced fumbles. Philbin played nine years

with the Jets and was a vital cog in the franchise’s lone Super Bowl winner.

Philbin was a two-time AFL All Star. Ellis played 11 seasons with the Jets

and was a two-time Pro Bowler. Ellis recorded 73 career sacks. He played a

vital role in the Jets reaching consecutive AFC Championship Games. 

DT -- First team: Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons. Honorable mention: Abdul

Salaam, Sione Po’uha.

Lyons and Klecko are one of the best defensive tackle tandems in NFL

history and part of the famed “New York Sack Exchange '' that included

Mark Gastineau and Abdul Salaam. Klecko was the epitome of versatility

becoming a Pro Bowler as a defensive end, defensive tackle and nose tackle.

Though never enshrined in the Hall of Fame, he had a career worthy of such

honor. Lyons played 11 seasons and though he never earned Pro Bowl

recognition, he made teams pay for being overly concerned with Klecko

and Gastineau. Lyons was a big reason in 1981 for the Jets returning to

the playoffs for the first time since 1969. Abdul Salaam spent eight years

as a Jet, they were 3-11 in each of the first two seasons but when

reinforcements arrived, he helped launch the Sack Exchange. Po’uha

played eight seasons with the Jets and evolved into a solid starter. He was

a reason the Jets reached consecutive AFC Title Games with some of the

best defenses in franchise history. 

OLB -- First team: Larry Grantham, Calvin Pace. Honorable mention:

Ralph Baker, Greg Buttle.

Grantham was perhaps the best linebacker in franchise history. Grantham

was a five-time AFL All Star in 13 seasons and was part of the 1968 Super

Bowl champions. Grantham is one of only 20 players to play in the AFL

for all ten of its seasons. Though Pace never earned Pro Bowl honors, he

is one of the best pass rushers in franchise history, recording 60 for his

career and forcing 21 fumbles. Baker played 11 seasons (1964-1974) and

was a staple for the Jets defense. Baker was a key contributor for the 1968

Super Bowl champions. Buttle played nine seasons with the Jets from

1976-1984 and was a crucial reason why the franchise ended a 13-year

playoff drought. 

ILB -- First team: Mo Lewis, David Harris. Honorable mention: 

Kyle Clifton, Marvin Jones.

Even though Lewis is best known for launching Tom Brady’s career by

injuring Drew Bledsoe. Lewis, however, had an outstanding career making

the Pro Bowl three times. He recorded 52.5 sacks and 14 interceptions.

Harris played ten seasons with the Jets and though he only All Pro

recognition once, he is the franchise’s second all-time leading tackler. Harris

was a vital cog in the Jets reaching back-to-back AFC Championship

Games, during which time, the Jets had an elite defense. While Clifton

benefited for part of his career by having a great defensive line in front of

him, he was a tackling machine. Clifton played 13 seasons (1984-1996)

and remains the franchise’s all-time leader in tackles and 10th in NFL

history. Clifton could play the run and pass equally well. Jones, who was

nicknamed “Shade Tree,” was similar to Clifton in his ability to play run

and pass. Jones is fourth in franchise history in tackles, once started 86

straight games and was All Pro in 2000. 

CB -- First team: Darelle Revis, Aaron Glenn. Honorable mention:

James Hasty, Bobby Jackson.

Revis played 11 seasons for four different teams but his best were his six

(two different stints) with the Jets. Nicknamed “Revis Island” because of

his ability to shut down opposing receivers, Revis had a Hall of Fame

worthy career when he is eligible in 2022. Revis was a seven-time Pro

Bowler and four-time All Pro. Glenn played 15 years with five different

teams but his best football came as a Jet from 1994-2001. Glenn was an

outstanding corner and reached three Pro Bowls. He also has the longest

interception return in franchise history (100 yards). Hasty played a physical

brand of football for seven seasons. Hasty intercepted 24 passes and scored

seven defensive touchdowns as a Jet. Jackson played eight seasons and led

the team in interceptions three times. He made the AFC All-Rookie team in

1978 and played a role in ending the Jets 13-year playoff drought. 

S -- First team: Bill Baird, Victor Green. Honorable mention: Kerry

Rhodes, Darrol Day.

Baird did not get any Pro Bowl recognition but remains the franchise all-time

leader with 34 career interceptions. Baird, who played from 1963-1969, was

one of many reasons the Jets defense put the clamps on the heavily favored

Colts in Super Bowl III. Green went from undrafted free agent to solid starter

for nine seasons. Green is fourth in franchise history with 24. Rhodes and

Day each played five seasons with the Jets (2005-2009). His best season

was 2006, when he was second-team All Pro. Ray recorded 21 career

interceptions for 581 yards and three touchdowns. He also set an NFL

playoff record for longest interception return for a touchdown, 98 yards. 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K -- First team: Pat Leahy. Honorable mention: Jim Turner.

Leahy played three decades from 1974-1991. Leahy was first-team All Pro

in 1978 and remains the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. At the time of

retirement, Leahy was third in NFL history in scoring. Leahy connected

on 71.4% on field goals and 95.5% on extra points. In seven years, Turner

was a two-time Pro Bowler and member of the 1968 Super Bowl

champions. He kicked three field goals and an extra point in the Jets Super

Bowl III win over the Colts. He was also a two-time AFL All Star. 

P -- First team: Curley Johnson. Honorable mention: Steve O’Neal.

Johnson was an athlete who happened to be a punter. Johnson played

running back and receiver, coupled with averaging 42.5 yards per punt.

Johnson was an AFL All Star in 1965 and member of the 1968 Super

Bowl champions. O’Neal is best known for his NFL record 98-yard punt.

He was a Jet for four seasons and averaged 40.7 yards per punt. 

RETURN -- First team:  Bruce Harper. Honorable mention: Santana Moss.

Though Harper also contributed as a running back, his best work came as a

returner. In his career Harper amassed 1,784 punt return yards and 5,407

kickoff return yards, which is a franchise high. Moss was much more

impactful as a Redskin and only spent four years with the Jets.

Nonetheless, he belongs on this team somewhere. He returned two punts

for a touchdown. 

HEAD COACH -- First team:  Weeb Ewbank. Honorable mention: 

Rex Ryan.

The Jets do not have a head coach that had a career winning percentage

over .500 that coached at least four seasons. Bill Parcels was 29-19 but

only coaching three years bumps him from consideration. Al Groh was

9-7 in his lone season. Ewbank, however, is a no-brainer as the first-team

choice because of his Hall of Fame status. His 71-77-6 record is somewhat

deflated because of three straight 5-8-1 seasons. Ewbank built the Jets

into a contender by winning the AFL championship in 1968 and

subsequently defeated the Colts in Super Bowl III. Ryan coached the

Jets for six seasons, going 46-50 with a 4-12 season in 2014 sealing his

fate. Ryan, however, guided the Jets to consecutive AFC Championship

games in 2009-2010 behind a stout defense and running game. 

TEAM -- 1968. This choice is a no-brainer not only for going 11-3,

winning the AFL championship and pulling off the biggest upset in

Super Bowl history. To appreciate this team, you must look at the

significance of their victory. At the time, the AFL was considered the

inferior product to the NFL despite the two leagues merging in 1966 to

form the Super Bowl. In 1970, the two NFL formed two conferences

(NFC and AFC). This team also epitomized the often heard “any given

Sunday,” mantra. Though Namath’s swagger is synonymous with this

team, and understandably so since the offense averaged 29.9 points per

game. The defense, however, was a stifling bunch in allowing the fewest

yards in the AFL.