New York Jets: Most notable player to wear each number

The New York Jets are one of the most storied franchises in all of the NFL, but who are the most notable to wear each number?

The New York Jets have been around since 1959 when they were the New York Titans; they officially became the Jets in 1963. Since then, they have had notable stars such as Joe Namath, Darrelle Revis and Keyshawn Johnson represent their historic franchise. However, the team has also had a number of stars at the end of their careers, players who blossomed after leaving New York, and some all out busts come through the organization.

This begs the question, who are the most notable players in franchise history to wear each number for the Jets? The purpose of this article is not to name the most productive players in franchise history, but rather the names that have generated the most buzz, players that few realize wore the green and white, and players that will make readers think, “Oh yeah, I remember him.”

In a long line of players to come through New York and play for the gang green, those identified as most notable are listed beyond. Take a trip down memory road and enjoy reminiscing on a better time in Jets history, or in some cases, some outright laughable moments as names at each number are bound to spark memories.

1. Michael Vick

The first overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft was a star for the Atlanta Falcons before his infamous arrest for his involvement in a dog fighting ring. Michael Vick then won NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2010 for the Philadelphia Eagles. He then spent the 2014 season with the New York Jets before playing one more season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015.

During his time with the Jets, Vick started three games for Gang Green and finished with a record of 1-2. He threw for 604 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in that time. Vick is currently the offensive coordinator for the Alliance of American Football’s Atlanta Legends.

2. Nick Folk

Like Vick, Nick Folk also finds himself in the AAF, except as a player rather than a coach, kicking for the Arizona Hotshots. Prior to his AAF debut, Folk spent 11 years in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jets.

Kicking for New York from 2010-16, Folk finished his time putting the ball through the uprights at an 82 percent clip before being released after the 2016 season even though he banged through 87 percent of his kicks.

We may just see him back in the league next year as plenty of teams find themselves in need of a kicker. The 35-year old would welcome any call he would receive from an NFL team.

3. Kliff Kingsbury

The former Texas Tech and newly named head coach of the Arizona Cardinals Kliff Kingsbury spent his 2005 season as the Jets backup quarterback, the only season he saw playing time in the NFL. Obviously now a household name due to his coaching experience and being the doppelgänger to Ryan Gosling.

In his one game that he appeared for the Jets, he threw only two passes for 17 yards. Cardinals fans are hoping that he has a more prestigious career in the NFL as a coach than he did as a quarterback.

4. Brett Favre

After retiring from the Green Bay Packers after the 2007 season, Brett Favre pranked everyone and came out of his short lived retirement to sign with the Jets in 2008 at the age of 39. He would then go on to retire and come out of retirement once more and play with the Minnesota Vikings from 2009-10.

The former MVP of the league started all 16 games for the Jets in 2008 while throwing for nearly throwing for 3,500 yards and had an equal amount of interceptions at 22 apiece. Favre led the gang green to a 9-7 record that year while missing the playoffs.

5. Teddy Bridgewater

His tenure was short-lived, but Teddy Bridgewater is the most notable player to wear No. 5 for the Jets. Appearing for the Jets in only training camp and partially through the preseason, he was traded for a third-round pick to the New Orleans Saints.

The former first round pick was off to a promising start before a devastating injury that cost him nearly two full years of his career. Bridgewater is now a free agent and set to hit the open market for the second year in a row after one year as the backup quarterback for the Saints.