Nobody will mistake the New York Jets for the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, or San Francisco 49ers. You could call it a proud fan base, but not a proud past. Despite this, there are numerous significant figures in Jets history who deserve to be remembered and even honored.
Only five Jets had their numbers retired. The list contains four Hall of Famers: quarterback Joe Namath, wide receiver Don Maynard, running back Curtis Martin, and defensive lineman Joe Klecko. It also contains Dennis Byrd, a defensive end who was fatally crippled after a notorious play in 1992.
There will most likely be several more in the near future. Those are the expected ones, but there are a few that are unexpected, as well as some that are yet dependent on future events. In no particular sequence, we look at five Jets who could be the next to have their numbers retired.
1. Darrelle Revis, cornerback, New York Jets (No. 24).
This is the first obvious choice. Darrelle Revis may be the most dominant player at his position in the history of the Jets. I would argue, as would many others, that when Revis was at his best, no cornerback played the position better.
He could do virtually anything on the field. He possessed tremendous hands, was an elite tackler in the open field, had a genius-level football IQ, and was the greatest pure cover cornerback of all time.
Quarterbacks didn’t pass to him very often, but when he did get an interception, he had hands like glue. For someone who isn’t known for many interceptions, he has a lot of memorable ones. The 2009 game against Tom Brady while covering Randy Moss came to mind.
Another example is his remarkable interception off Vincent Jackson’s foot against Philip Rivers during the 2010 playoffs. Or when he contorted his body to intercept Carson Palmer against Chad Ochocinco in the same playoffs?
He ended his career with 29 interceptions, 496 tackles, and 139 passes defensed. However, Darrelle Revis’ actual greatness cannot be observed by his own numbers.
To truly understand what made him great, consider his opponents’ statistics. In 2009 and 2010, his two best seasons, he faced legends like Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, Calvin Johnson, and Antonio Brown.
None of them cleared four grabs, totaling 55 receiving yards. That’s plain foolish. That doesn’t really make sense.
He was the cornerstone of one of the NFL’s greatest defenses in the last two and a half decades, as well as the top player during one of the Jets’ most successful eras. Oh, he’s also a Hall of Famer.
No. 24 should have retired by now. After all, he has an e
ntire island named after him.
2. Winston Hill, OT, New York Jets (#75)
This is a Jets icon that younger fans may not be familiar with (hand-up). He’s the typical individual that gets lost in the shuffle of time due to his position on the field and a lack of notable moments. But he’s also the one that your father chastises you about for not recognizing the importance.
Winston Hill was drafted out of Texas Southern in 1963 and played in both the AFL and the NFL until 1977. He played 14 seasons with the Jets.
He was a dominating lineman who protected Joe Namath, created open holes for Emerson Boozer and Matt Snell, and helped the Jets win their sole Lombardi Trophy in 1969. In fact, aside from Namath, one could argue that Hill was the team’s most significant player.
He was a world champion, a popular Jet, and, as of 2020, a Hall of Famer. As a franchise with only a few valued players and memories, he deserves to be recognized as one of them. Number 75 should be put to bed.
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 and picture Chrebet on the Meadowlands turf. He’s catching a pass over the middle without gloves, taking a heavy hit from a much bigger and stronger safety, only to stand up, hand the ball to a referee, and jog back to the huddle.
That was Chrebet, and that’s why we adored him.
D’Brickashaw Ferguson, LT, New York Jets (#60)
We talked a lot about Nick Mangold and the Rex Ryan offensive lines, but there was another lifelong Jet who helped stabilize the line. D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who was also chosen in 2006, spent his whole career with the Jets before retiring in 2013.
If he wasn’t the best left tackle in the world for many years, he came close. He didn’t make enough of an impact to see No. 60 retired, but he gets an honorable mention on our list.
