Ranking all 33 foreign-born players in NY Jets history
By Justin Fried
![NY Jets, Nathan Shepherd NY Jets, Nathan Shepherd](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3530,h_1985,x_0,y_134/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/30/01h73r1assjfc268wkm6.jpg)
12. Ben Graham, P, NY Jets
- Country of Birth: Australia
- Jets playing career: 2005-2008
One of the first Australian rules football converts to try out as an NFL punter, Ben Graham quickly became a fan favorite with the Jets when he was signed ahead of the 2005 season.
Graham made history on a number of occasions with the Jets. He was the oldest rookie (31) to ever make an NFL opening-day roster. He became the first Australian to captain an American pro-sports team. He was also the only player to captain a team in two different professional sports leagues.
Graham's Jets career only lasted a few years before his inconsistencies forced the team to make a change, but for many fans growing up in the mid-2000s, the Aussie punter remains a favorite. His post-Jets career included stints in New Orleans, Arizona, and Detroit.
11. Kenrick Ellis, DT, NY Jets
- Country of Birth: Jamaica
- Jets playing career: 2011-2014
The second of two Jamaican-born Jets on this list, Kenrick Ellis was a third-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft who spent four years with the organization from 2011-2014.
Ellis was primarily a backup nose tackle, appearing in 47 games and making five starts during his time with the Jets. He finished his Jets career with 53 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack. Ellis later appeared in nine games with the Vikings in 2015.
As a key rotational player in the Jets' defensive line for close to a half-decade, Ellis earns a spot just outside the top 10 on this list.
10. Chris Farasopoulos, S/PR, NY Jets
- Country of Birth: Greece
- Jets playing career: 1971-1973
We've reached the top 10! One of only seven players in NFL history born in Greece, Chris Farasopoulos was a pretty notable member of the Jets for three years in the early 1970s.
Farasopoulos was drafted in the third round of the 1971 NFL Draft and quickly became one of the league's most dynamic punt returners. He famously returned a punt for a touchdown in the 1972 season opener — the team's first punt return touchdown since 1963.
Unfortunately for Farasopoulos, a knee injury would derail his career in 1973, as he played just one season after that with the Saints. Still, "The Galloping Greek," as he was known, was a quality safety and returner for the Jets for a few years. He deserves a spot in the top 10.