The New York Jets are one of the original AFL teams, and for better or worse at times, are one of the most storied franchises in the National Football League as we know it today. Here are five fascinating facts about the New York Jets.
5 New York Jets Facts:
- The franchise was originally called the New York Titans from 1960 to 1962. (source) It was on August 14, 1959 when the New York Titans became one of the charter members of the American Football League (AFL), all before the AFL merged with the National Football League (NFL) in 1966. Just a few years after the New York Titans were formed, the franchise was saved from bankruptcy by a five-man syndicate (led by Sonny Werblin) and purchased for $1 million. Because the team played their games at Shea Stadium near LaGuardia Airport, they were renamed as the Jets.
- Since 1968, the New York Jets have appeared in the NFL playoffs 13 times. (source) Of these thirteen trips to the playoffs, this includes four appearances in the AFC Championship Game. Their most recent playoff appearance came in 2010, where the Jets fell 24-19 in the AFC Championship Game to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- In the 1983 NFL Draft, the Jets selected QB Ken O’Brien just three selections ahead of Dan Marino. (source) In one of the biggest blunders in the history of the NFL Draft, the Jets selected California-Davis QB Ken O’Brien with the 24th overall selection in 1983. Just three selections later, their division rival Miami Dolphins selected an eventual Hall of Famer in Pittsburgh QB Dan Marino. The two quarterbacks would have very different careers.
- Dan Marino: Dan Marino made nine Pro Bowls, was the NFL MVP in 1984, and threw for 61,361 yards with 420 touchdown passes and 252 interceptions. He was a three-time NFL passing touchdowns leader, and Marino was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
- Ken O’Brien: 25,094 yards with 126 touchdown passes and 99 interceptions. He made two Pro Bowl appearances (1985, 1991). O’Brien would eventually leave the New York Jets for stints with both the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.
- Dan Marino: Dan Marino made nine Pro Bowls, was the NFL MVP in 1984, and threw for 61,361 yards with 420 touchdown passes and 252 interceptions. He was a three-time NFL passing touchdowns leader, and Marino was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
- The Jets only Super Bowl win came at Super Bowl III (1969). (source) On January 12, 1969, the New York Jets became the first AFL franchise to defeat an NFL team in Super Bowl III. Jets Quarterback Joe Namath led the Jets to a 16-7 victory over the Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl in Miami. In the win, Namath went 17/28 for 206 yards without any touchdowns or interceptions.
- Curtis Martin is the Jets all-time leading rusher with 10,302 yards. (source) With 58 touchdowns and 10,302 yards on the ground, Gang Green’s all-time leading rusher is Curtis Martin. Originally drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft, Martin joined the Jets for the 1998 season, and stayed with the team through the end of his career, retiring after the 2006 season. Curtis Martin is widely considered to be one of the greatest New York Jets ever.
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Featured image photo credit: Copyright Keith Allison, 2018. Originally found on Wikimedia Commons. Image was resized and cropped. Creative Commons 2.0.
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