Best New York Jets’ Player to Wear Number 93
As we continue our countdown of the best New York Jets ever to wear the uniform, who was the best to wear number 93?
As the New York Jets begin to prepare for the 2016 regular season and beyond, we are going to continue our look back. Though the wins haven’t been numerous, and the Super Bowl titles less so, the Jets have sported talent throughout their history. Even when they couldn’t find their way, the great Don Maynard was catching passes on the outside. He was the shining light on some very bad teams, and the talent has continued to be there right through today.
Related Story: Best Jets' Player to Wear Number 94
But who has been the best? Over the last month or so, we have been counting down the best Jets’ players to ever wear the jersey, backwards by jersey number. Some have been very easy choices, like number 99 and number 96. Others have been tough, like number 95.
The selection for number 93 was a teammate of No. 99 and a very easy choice. His name is Marty Lyons.
For the younger readers and those who just want to remember the Jets’ great, let’s go back to 1979. Lyons was selected by the Jets as the 14th overall choice in the draft, and became an immediate starter on the right side of the defensive line. Mark Gastineau was selected in the very next round and they formed the bookends of what came to be known as the “New York Sack Exchange”.
In 1981, the “Exchange”, which consisted of Lyons, Gastineau, Joe Klecko, and Abdul Salaam, set a record by recording 66 sacks, although the stat wasn’t technically an official one until 1982. The performance helped return the Jets to the playoffs for the first time since 1969, and they went back to the playoffs three separate times during Lyons’ career.
He never was a major factor in the pass rush, allowing that glory to shine on Gastineau and Klecko. But he did post 6.5 sacks in 1985 and 7.5 in 1988. One of his best days as a Jet was one of his last. In the final game of the 1988 season, the Jets were on the outside of the playoffs looking in, but had the chance to play spoiler for their in-house rivals, the New York Giants.
That day, Lyons sacked Phil Simms twice, helping the Jets to a 27-21 win and later that night Big Blue was eliminated from playoff contention.
Off the field, Lyons has been noted for his charity work. His foundation works with terminally ill children, and he won the 1984 Walter Payton Man of the Year award from the league to honor that work.
Currently, Jets’ fans get to hear Lyons’ work on game day, as Lyons handles the analysis on Jets’ radio broadcasts while Bob Wischusen lends his talents as the play by play voice.
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Not the flashy player, Lyons never earned a spot in the Pro Bowl, but the team has put him in his rightful place along the top of the stadium. In 2013, Marty was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor. For his career, he participated in 147 games, all in New York, and started 135 of them. He was the obvious choice for the best player to wear No. 93.