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New York Jets: Bits and pieces of team history

ByPaul Newbold|

The New York Jets have a long storied history, that many fans might disregard for it’s lack of trophies. Joe Namath took the team to its only Super Bowl and the Jets have won the AFC East title only twice since 1970 (1998, 2002). Despite the seemingly unproductive history of the organization, there are still some interesting pieces to the story. Today, I’m stepping away from training camp and am going to take a look back at some of those moments that have kept Jet fans around for all these years.

In the history of the organization, five different offensive players have recovered a fumble and taken it in for a touchdown. Namath was the first to do it, recovering a Matt Snell fumble and taking it one yard in for the score against the Oakland Raiders in December of 1967.

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Next up it was Randy Rasmussen (G) who recovered a Cliff McClain fumble in the end zone for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in 1972. Two years later in 1974, Clarence Jackson (RB) scooped up a John Riggins fumble and took it 24 yards down the field for the score.

Willie Brister (TE) was also the beneficiary of a Riggins’ fumble, in 1975 Brister fell on the ball in the end zone for his only career touchdown. The longest fumble recovery by a Jet offensive player was when Bobby Jones (WR) recovered a Mike Augustyniak fumble and rumbled 61 yards for the score against the Buffalo Bills in 1981.

We looked a bit at fumbles, now let’s look at interceptions for touchdowns. The longest interception return for a touchdown in team history came in 1996, when Aaron Glenn picked off Dan Marino and returned it 100 yards for the score. Eric McMillan (S) has the most interception returns for touchdowns, posting 5 picks between 1988 and 1991.

Curiously, Glenn also has the shortest interception return, it came in 1996 when Glenn picked off Eagles’ quarterback Ty Detmer and ran it in from 13 yards out. The Jets have 75 interceptions for touchdowns in their history.

Punt returns for touchdowns are often game changers, and the Jets have had a few along the way. The longest was 98 yards back in 1990 when Terrence Mathis scorched the Dallas Cowboys’ special teams. Dick Christy (RB) holds the Jet record for the most punt returns for touchdowns. Between the 1961 and 1962 seasons, Christy returned four punts into the opponents end zone. His longest coming in 1962 when he took one back 73 yards against the San Diego Chargers.

Most fans love sacks of the opposing quarterback, the Jets sure have done a great job of that over the years. Of course most fans know that Mark Gastineau is the all-time sack leader with 107.5 sacks for his career. Gastineau also holds the mark for sacks in a season with 22, in 1984.

Joe Klecko is a distant second behind Gastineau, with 77.5 sacks to his credit. Klecko also set a mark of ten consecutive games with at least one sack. He did it in the final six games of 1977 and the first four games of 1978. The rookie with the most sacks in his inaugural campaign is Hugh Douglas who posted ten sacks in 1995.

The most sacks by a player in a single game stands at four, set by Mark Lomas back in 1970, it was duplicated by Gastineau three times in 1981, 1983 and 1984. John Abraham also matched the four sack mark in 2001 against the New Orleans Saints.

There has been speculation that the Jets will return to the playoffs this season, so let’s look at some of the marks set by players during the playoffs. Defensive end Shaun Ellis holds the record for the most playoff appearances for a Jet. Ellis played in 12 playoff games between 2001 and 2010.

Pat Leahy holds the mark for most field goals scored in the playoffs, he hit 8 field goals in 7 games as he followed closely behind by John Hall and Jim Turner, who both hit 7 field goals in playoff games. John Hall hit the longest field goal in Jet playoff history when he connected for a 52 yard kick in 1999 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Of course Freeman McNeil holds the rushing playoff record, McNeil has 633 yards on 150 carries in playoff contests and accounted for three touchdowns as well. Curtis Martin stands at second in that category, posting 528 yards on 133 carries and posted three playoff touchdowns as well.

I’ll wrap this trivia piece up with some interesting little tidbits. The longest tenured Jet in their history is Leahy. He played in 250 games for the Jets from 1974- 1991. Leahy played 18 seasons in Green and White. Finally, Kyle Clifton played in the most consecutive games as a Jet as he played in 204 consecutive contests.

Oct 13, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets former players Mark Gastineau (99) and Joe Klecko (73) and Marty Lyons serve as honorary captains during the coin toss before the New York Jets faced the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. The Steelers won the game 19-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The quarterbacks to play the most seasons are tied at 12 years in Pat Ryan and Namath. Don Maynard and Wesley Walker both played 13 seasons for the Jets, making them the longest tenured wide receivers in team history. Mickey Shula and Jerome Barkum both played 12 seasons at the tight end position. Finally, Victor Green holds the mark of the longest playing at cornerback, appearing in 9 seasons and playing in 139 games.

I hope you enjoyed the article. I know I enjoyed writing it as the process brought back quite a few memories. Plays and players of the past came rushing back as I researched Jet records.

Some of the names on those lists are guys I got to watch growing up, some I even got to meet along the way. Names like Al Toon, Winston Hill, Greg Buttle, Matt Brock, Victor Hobson, and many others reminded me of why I’ve remained loyal to this franchise over the decades.

Time for the readers to throw their hat into the ring. We here at The Jet Press value your opinions. Please join us today and leave a comment below. A memory of your favorite player perhaps? Or how about your fondest Jet game you ever attended? We’re reminiscing today so please, leave us your thoughts and Let’s Talk Jet Football!!

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