New helmet decal pays tribute to Greg Knapp
The New York Jets‘ helmets will carry a decal honoring late assistant coach Greg Knapp throughout the 2021 season. New York made the announcement through its social media channels on Wednesday. The decal is a black circle depicting Knapp’s initials.
You'll always be with us, Coach Knapp. pic.twitter.com/JYecyVQvqZ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 28, 2021
This marks the second straight season that the Jets will wear a memorial on their uniforms. The Jets previously wore jersey patches in honor of Betty Wold Johnson, the mother of Jets owners Christopher and Woody.
The passing of Knapp weighed heavily on the Jets as they reported for training camp on One Jets Drive this week. He was set to be the team’s passing game coordinator this season before he was fatally injured by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in his home state of California. Knapp had been a staple on NFL sidelines as an assistant since 1997, spending the last three seasons as a quarterbacks coach in Atlanta.
“It is an absolute tragedy. Knowing Knapper, he’d be really upset if we didn’t move on with a positive attitude,” head coach Robert Saleh said of Knapp as the Jets reported to Florham Park yesterday. “He was a tremendous man, he was a tremendous leader, tremendous father, and tremendous husband. He’s going to be sorely missed. As far as the group, and this team, there’s been a lot of tremendous support from not only in the organization but outside the organization and I know that he’ll be with us throughout this entire season.”
It’s almost that time pic.twitter.com/B5qAmDgFFA
— Woody Johnson (@woodyjohnson4) July 26, 2021
The Knapp tribute is not the only adjustment to the Jets’ headgear. Woody Johnson revealed on Monday that the team would feature embossed decals reading “NEW YORK” at the bottom of the helmet, replacing the printed version seen on last year’s. This marks the third season for the Jets’ current uniform set introduced in 2019.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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