The New York Jets might have to do battle with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings for ownership of a logo-triggered hashtag on Twitter.
Wednesday’s NFL schedule unveiling featured no battles between the New York Jets and Dallas, but it appears the Florham Park-based organization might have one brewing with another squad from D-Town, and it’s not the Cowboys.
Twitter has introduced logo-induced hashtags that arrive just in time for the Women’s National Basketball Association’s 25th anniversary season commencing on Friday. Jets fans who happen to follow supporters of the Dallas Wings might see a familiar branding on their timelines, as the tag “#TakeFlight” triggers the hardwood team’s Pegasus-like logo. The same tag has revealed a Jets logo for each of the last two NFL seasons.
While NFL logos are not triggered by hashtags during the offseason, it presents an uncanny situation where posts referencing the Jets now feature a Dallas memento, which will likely last through the WNBA season (which runs through the fall). That includes the Jets’ Twitter bio, which bears the hashtag and the accompanying Wings logo to go with it.
The bit of coincidental marketing, which may humorously agitate fans of the local New York Liberty, was noticed by users.
good to see that the New York Jets are supporting a WNBA team this year but weird that it's the Wings & not the Liberty! pic.twitter.com/JDIvqS0jFJ
— Justin Carter (@juscarts) May 13, 2021
@DallasWings highjacked #TakeFlight ? #Jets #NFL
— Tommy Griffenkranz (@therealtgriff) May 13, 2021
The Jets have since responded to the shared hashtag, agreeing to share, but pledging their allegiance to Brooklyn basketball through an updated bio that still includes the “#TakeFlight” hashtag but now includes the caveat that they “stan the (Liberty)”.
Liberty sophomore Jazmine Jones, a member of the league’s All-Rookie team last season, offered her seal of approval.
We can share the hashtag @dallaswings.
But to be clear, we only rock with @nyliberty 🗽 https://t.co/9nFUurXNbR
— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 13, 2021
Love to hear it ‼️🗽 https://t.co/Nsl02E7mjK
— Jazmine Jones (@Jazmine_Jones4) May 13, 2021
If anything, this makes it a better time than ever for the Jets to change their branding, as the hashtag hasn’t been often used in a celebratory manner.
The Jets are 9-23 over the last two seasons, leading to the departures of head coach Adam Gase and franchise quarterback Sam Darnold. Hope reigns in the form of new additions of both the rookie (Zach Wilson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Elijah Moore) and veteran (Corey Davis, Carl Lawson) variety.
It’s possible the Jets could adopt the “All Gas, No Break” mantra of new head Robert Saleh as their new logo-triggering social media branding. The phrase has become more prevalent since Saleh introduced it in his opening statements as the Jets’ boss last winter.
The local Liberty will make their full-time Barclays Center debut on Friday night against the Indiana Fever (7 p.m. ET, YES/NBA TV) while the Jets’ new friends from Dallas battle the Los Angeles Sparks (10:30 p.m. ET, Facebook).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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