The New York Jets franchise was one of the original American Football League teams founded when the rival league began in 1960. The team’s most famous early success came in 1968 when quarterback Joe Namath secured a victory in the Super Bowl over the NFL’s Baltimore Colts and then delivered as promised. Over the years, the Jets have had great players playing for them on the field, including Namath, Don Maynard, John Riggins, Joe Klecko, Art Monk, Greg Buttle, Wayne Chrebet, Boomer Esiason, Brett Favre, Mark Gastineau, Aaron Glenn, Bruce Harper, James Hasty, Johnny Hector, Keyshawn Johnson, Mo Lewis, Marty Lyons, Curtis Martin, Lance Mehl, Freeman McNeil, Rob Moore, Richard Todd, Ken O’Brien, Chad Pennington, Pat Ryan, Abdul Salaam, Vinny Testaverde, Al Toon, Wesley Walker, Laveranues Coles, and Ty Law. Here are five things you probably know about the New York Jets.
1. One of the early faces of the franchise, and one of the most famous players for the New York Jets, was quarterback Joe Namath. Namath was drafted by the Jets in the 1965 AFL Draft out of the University of Alabama. If he hadn’t chosen to play in the AFL, he could have played his career as quarterback for the St. Louis Cardinals, since they were the team that took him in the NFL Draft.
2. When the New York Jets franchise first began play, they were not only known as the New York Titans, but their team colors were also blue and gold.
3. In the 1998 NFL playoffs, New York Jets wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson saw action at defensive back and ended up catching an interception.
4. When the Jets played the Patriots in December 2005, Vinny Testaverde was New York’s quarterback while veteran Doug Flutie was New England’s quarterback. This was the first time in NFL history that two quarterbacks over the age of forty competed against each other in a regular season game.
5. The first New York Jets player to gain more than 1,000 rushing yards in a season was running back John Riggins in 1975.
The New York Jets have a loyal following and some of the most rabid fans in the National Football League. The team has experienced several different successful eras, but has also suffered some low moments. While they don’t always finish at or near the top of the league, the Jets have been involved in several memorable moments, games and seasons. The New York Jets are one of the best stories each year in the National Football League.
