In this series, we’ll be highlighting a different player from the storied past of the New York Jets. Today, we take a look at safety Victor Green.
A versatile defender who could make plays at every level of the field, Victor Green was a tackling machine for the Jets, spending nine of his 11 NFL seasons with the Gang Green.
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 1993 out of Akron, Green would turn out to be one of the best players in franchise history that fell through the cracks of the NFL draft.
After spending his first two seasons as mostly a reserve and special-teamer, Green cracked the starting lineup in 1995 and never looked back. He topped 100 tackles in five of the next seasons, including a career-high and league-leading 165 stops in 1996.
Green was more than just a productive tackler, though. He had a penchant for getting his hands on the football, picking off 24 passes and recovering 13 fumbles over his nine seasons in New York.
In all, Green finished his near-decade with the Jets with 610 solo tackles, the fifth-highest mark in franchise history. His 24 interceptions are tied for No. 4 on the team’s all-time list, trailing only Darrelle Revis, Dainard Paulson and Bill Baird, while his 13 fumble recoveries are tied for the sixth-most in team history.
After leaving the Jets, Green remained in the NFL for two more seasons, playing a year each with the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints.
A true Jet, Green appeared in 139 games for the Jets, the most of any defensive back in franchise history.
While he never made a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team, Green was named to the Jets’ All-Time Four-Decade Team, a badge of honor for a player who made the entire league regret letting him go undrafted.