7 most beloved players in NY Jets history

Valentine's Day is a time to show appreciation for those you care about. It's a day dedicated to expressing gratitude and affection to the closest individuals in each of our lives. It's about love.

NY Jets fans love their favorite team. It takes a special breed to be a fan of this franchise, given how little those same fans have been rewarded for their faith. Still, there are certain Jets players who will always have a special place in the hearts of fans.

Those are the players we're going to be looking at today. This isn't necessarily a list of the best players in Jets history. Rather, it's an account of the players who are most beloved for their time with the organization.

Unfortunately, that means a few Jets greats, such as Darrelle Revis, Mark Gastineau, and even Mo Lewis, will be left off for a variety of reasons. A player has to be essentially universally loved by the fan base to qualify, and those three don't fit that criteria.

This was a tough list to create, so here are a few honorable mentions that deserve a shoutout. Disclaimer: there are obviously some Jets legends that will be left out.

Honorable Mentions: Curtis Martin, Matt Snell, Kevin Mawae, Emerson Boozer, Al Toon, Marty Lyons, Bruce Harper, Vinny Testaverde, Aaron Glenn, Bilal Powell, Dennis Byrd, Gerry Philbin

7. Don Maynard, WR, NY Jets

Don Maynard is the greatest wide receiver in Jets history. The four-time Pro Bowler and Pro Football Hall of Famer spent 13 seasons with the organization and was arguably the first true superstar the team had.

Maynard played with the Jets (and New York Titans) from 1960-1972, finishing his career with over 11,000 receiving yards, nearly 90 touchdowns, and, of course, a Super Bowl ring.

If this was a list of the best players in Jets history, Maynard would likely rank even higher. Unfortunately, he was overshadowed by his legendary quarterback, Joe Namath, at times, which prevents him from being toward the top.

Nonetheless, Maynard will always be one of the greatest Jets of all time, and he holds a special place in the hearts of many who grew up in that era and spearheaded the future of this fan base.