The greatest unsung hero in franchise history as per NFL Mocks

Picking the greatest unsung hero in New York Jets history isn’t easy but one particular cornerback came to mind when NFL Mocks selected who it would ultimately be.

Back in the late 1960s, it was all about tough defenses and power running. Of course, most New York Jets fans will remember this era as the time when quarterback Joe Namath was the talk of the town and held his own on the gridiron.

Before guaranteeing a win in Super Bowl III against the mighty Baltimore Colts, it was the consistent play of particular cornerback that not only brought the Jets to the big game but also cemented the biggest win ever in franchise history.

That’s right ladies and gentlemen, cornerback Johnny Sample was a quiet defender that used his veteran experience to always be one step ahead of the competition. That championship season in 1968, he hauled in seven interceptions, the best of his 11-year pro career.

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In a slideshow written by Erik Lambert of NFL Mocks, here is why he picked Sample to be the greatest unsung hero in Jets history:

In the Super Bowl, he struck again with a huge interception of the Baltimore Colts who’d driven inside the Jets 20. New York held the Colts to just one touchdown, completing an all-time upset 16-7. Sample retired not long after.

If it wasn’t for Sample’s above average play as a cornerback, the Jets likely wouldn’t have even been able to make the playoffs that season. Even though Namath tends to get all the fame and praise for the Jets beating the Colts in Super Bowl III, it was mostly their defense and rushing attack that sealed the deal.

Sample retired after that season since he delivered a year to remember that ended with him forever idolized as a Super Bowl champion. Mind you, he was 32 years old during that time as it’s amazing to see that he didn’t let Father Time slow him down one bit. Even at that age, he made opposing offenses think twice before throwing anything in his direction.

Overall, Sample is one of the many players that gave Jets fans a plethora of amazing memories over the years. Lambert made the right choice here selecting him above other unsung heroes of the Jets since, without him, they could have been one of those franchises still playing today without a single Super Bowl appearance, let alone a victory in the big game.