Former New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, who is likely bound for Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame, turned 36 on Wednesday.
Revis Island celebrated its 36th year as a sovereign nation on Wednesday – in other words, it was Darrelle Revis‘ birthday.
Well-wishers took to Twitter to celebrate the future Hall of Famer’s special day, an occasion likely dreaded by the finest passers and receivers from the late 2000s and early 2010s. Nonetheless, Revis got plenty of love from both dedicated football accounts and his on-field contemporaries both past and present.
Pro Football Focus, for example, dug out an NBC Sports graphic from the 2010 postseason, showcasing the illustrious sunken ships that fell victim to the storms around Revis Island. Shortly after that graphic was displayed, Chad Ochocinco joined Randy Moss and Terrell Owens in the “twice” subcategory, as Revis held him to 28 years on a pair of receptions in the New York Jets‘ Wild Card win over Cincinnati.
No one was safe on Revis Island 🏝️
Happy Birthday to Darrelle Revis 🐐🎉🎂 pic.twitter.com/ixwOK1GQua
— PFF (@PFF) July 14, 2021
PFF later provided video of another classic Revis performance, a one-reception shutdown of Calvin Johnson in a 2010 overtime victory in Detroit. Even Revis’ alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, got in on the fun by posting one of his finest moments as a Panther, when he took back a Pat McAfee punt 73 yards for a score during a 2006 showdown with West Virginia.
Throwback to when Revis shut down Calvin Johnson 👀
🏝4 targets
🏝1 reception
🏝13 yards
🏝3 forced incompletions❌✈️❌pic.twitter.com/Rub2cxCYye
— PFF (@PFF) July 14, 2021
Happy Birthday, Darrelle Revis!
🏝 @Revis24 🐐 #H2Ppic.twitter.com/bDyy4LL6f3
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) July 14, 2021
Revis, for his part, even gave himself a little gift, reminding anyone speaking against his Canton case in 2023 that he often squared up against the finest receivers from the turn of the century. He made his declaration in responding to a highlight reel from the NFL’s official Brazillian account.
Only a few corners can say they travel with the best receivers in the game!!! https://t.co/tgWcprQGSz
— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) July 14, 2021
One of the current faces of the Jets, Mekhi Becton, let Revis know his self-praise was well warranted.
Happy birthday GOAT! https://t.co/jaX9pKBWh2
— Trending Topic 🤷🏾♂️ (@BigTicket73) July 14, 2021
The Jets themselves commemorated Revis’ birthday pitting him in the so-called “meme era”…and offered some not-so-subtle intimidation to those who named Charles Woodson the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year.
if @Revis24 played in the meme era pic.twitter.com/uZkwjy7vmy
— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 14, 2021
@ 2009 DPOY voters
we just wanna talk https://t.co/B9mK33pSFy
— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 14, 2021
Revis, Wednesday’s birthday boy, was well known for providing plenty of gifts for Jets fans and remains one of the most beloved figures in team history. The newly-minted 36-year-old will be on the 2023 Hall of Fame ballot joining other defensive studs from the turn of the century like James Harrison and Dwight Freeney.
No. 24 ended his eight-year Jets career (2007-12, 2015-16) with 25 interceptions, good for third-best in team history. His career total of 112 passes defended is a franchise record since the statistic was first tracked in 1999, well ahead of second-ranked Antonio Cromartie’s 63 passes defended as a Jet.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
