The Top Five New York Jets Safeties of All-Time

Dec 28, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets free safety

Calvin Pryor

(25) in the first quarter at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

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Calvin Pryor is playing this position for the Jets, but he is not on this list.

It’s time to continue selecting our all time Jets roster. We are almost finished, as we are on the last defensive position. For the last several weeks, we have been looking at the best Jets of all time at each position. We have been presenting the credentials, and giving you, the Jets fans, the chance to make the choice.

Today, we finish up the defense by selecting the safeties. We have five candidates from Jets history for you. Only one is from the most recent history. We actually present one that only played one year for the Jets, but he did make the Pro Bowl that year, he sneaks his way onto the list.

So, let’s review the top Jets safeties of all time. Here we go with nominee number one.

Next: Erik McMillan

This guy goes back to some quite lean Jets years, but was a talented player despite the bad team records. Erik McMillan was drafted by the Jets in the third round of the 1988 draft. As a rookie, McMillan picked off eight passes, two of them for touchdowns, earning him Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and a Pro Bowl berth. The next year, he picked off six more, and one more for a touchdown.

Before moving on from the Jets after the 1992 season, McMillan played in 76 games, starting 52 of them. He picked off 22 passes for the team, making him on of the best safeties in Jets history.

Our first nominee, number 22, Erik McMillan!

Next: Victor Green

Our second nominee is one many of you will remember. Victor Green signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 1993. His first interception came in 1995 in a game against the Miami Dolphins, and off his career went. He never picked off less than two passes for the Jets in a season after 1995, until he left after the 2001 season.

In his Jets career, Victor Green played in 139 games, starting in 108 of them. He posted 24 interceptions in his nine years with the Jets, running back two for touchdowns. He had a nose for the football on the ground as well, recovering 13 fumbles as a member of the Jets. He didn’t receive much league wide recognition, but he is a guy that Jets fans remember fondly.

Our second nominee, number 21, Victor Green!

Next: Darrol Ray

The guy making the tackle in the picture above is a guy that Jets fans who remember the early 1980’s will remember well. Darrol Ray was chosen by the Jets in the second round of the 1980 draft. He started right away as a rookie, posting six interceptions, and thirteen over his first two seasons, three of them for touchdowns.

Ray posted a pick six in the 1982 Wild Card game against the Bengals, taking one 98 yards to the house, helping the Jets to a 44-17 win. He started 69 out of 72 games with the Jets and posted 21 interceptions.

Our third nominee, number 28, Darrol Ray!

Next: Brian Washington

Our fourth nominee is a bit more obscure, but put in some terrific years in New York as well. Brian Washington was actually drafted by the Browns in the 10th round of the 1988 draft. He joined the Jets in 1990 and immediately became a starter at the strong safety position. His first year with the Jets was good for three interceptions, and off he went.

He was a durable player for the Jets, starting 75 out of 77 games. During that five year stint with the team, Washington posted 18 interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns. The Jets may have been going through rough times in the early 1990’s, but Brian Washington did all he could to give Jets fans hope.

Our fourth nominee, number 48, Brian Washington.

Next: LaRon Landry

Our fifth nominee is one we all know, and wasn’t here very long. But, he did make his mark. LaRon Landry came to the Jets in 2012 after spending his first five years with the Washington Redskins. Known for his toughness as a tackler, he made Jets opponents weary of coming across the middle on his watch. Landry was a force, especially against the run, posting 100 tackles, 76 solo. His sheer strength forced four fumbles as a member of the Jets.

It was only one year as a member of the Jets, but that year did earn a Pro Bowl appearance. So, he sneaks onto this list, without many other choices.

Our final nominee, number 30, LaRon Landry.

That’s it. There are your five best Jets safeties of all time. Please vote below. The top two will make our all time Jets roster:

Who is the best Jets safety of all time?

Victor Green

(62%, 16 Votes)

Erik McMillan

(19%, 5 Votes)

Darrol Ray

(12%, 3 Votes)

LaRon Landry

(8%, 2 Votes)

Brian Washington

(0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 26

Next: Draft Profile: Nate Orchard

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