ESPN announced the creation of its NFL All-Quarter Century Team on Thursday afternoon, and two members of the New York Jets made the list.
Instead of simply celebrating the work that Hall-of-Famers Alan Faneca and Darrelle Revis put forth in Jets uniforms, though, it gives us a good idea as we wait until the start of training camp.
So while Revis and Faneca should be celebrated, it’s time to take a look at the best players at each position over the last quarter century.
Jets’ Quarter-Century Team
Our criteria for players who make the list is two-pronged. Not only do the players need to have great regular season success, but playoff moments matter as well.
With that being said, it’s time to look at the best players at each position over the last 25 years for New York.
QB: Chad Pennington
Chad Pennington was far more consistent throughout his career with the Jets than guys like Mark Sanchez. Two playoff victories and multiple playoff appearances showed that Pennington has easily been the best quarterback for the Jets over the last 25 years.
RB: Curtis Martin
Breece Hall, Thomas Jones, and even LaDainian Tomlinson are/were terrific Jets running backs. They don’t come close to the Hall-of-Famer that is Curtis Martin—even if the veteran only played five seasons during the last quarter century.
WR: Laveranues Coles, Garrett Wilson
Laveranues Coles was impressive in his seven-year run with the Jets. He was a consistent and one of the team’s better receivers in franchise history. On the other hand, Garrett Wilson has recorded three straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career—a team record.
There are many quality receivers in Jets history over the last 25 years. Shout out to Jets X-Factor’s very own Wayne Chrebet, whose place in Jets history is forever cemented. Nonetheless, his greatest seasons came before 2000.
Santonio Holmes’ playoff heroics nearly propelled him into one of the two spots, but his Jets tenure wasn’t long enough. Santana Moss is another name that deserves recognition, similar to Jerricho Cotchery.
Last but certainly not least, how does one rank Brandon Marshall? His record-breaking 2015 season will forever place him in a special spot in Jets lore. Throwing him in Wilson’s place could easily be argued.
Both Coles and Wilson deserve their spots here, though.
TE: Dustin Keller
Like many names on this list, Dustin Keller’s numbers don’t exactly pop out, but neither do the rest of the team’s history at tight end. Keller was a key part of New York’s offense during the early 2010s, and that still carries weight.
OT: D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Damien Woody
D’Brickashaw Ferguson was a no-brainer as the Jets’ top left tackle, and there isn’t any debate about that. Damien Woody, on the other hand, was the most consistent right tackle of the last 25 Jets-specific years.
Jason Fabini deserves legitimate attention, but Woody edges him because of how dominant the Rex’s ground-and-pound rushing attacks were.
OG: Alan Faneca, Brandon Moore
Alan Faneca is one of the best guards of all time and was a Pro Bowl talent with the Jets, regardless of how short his tenure was. There aren’t many right guards who have been as dominant when healthy as Alijah Vera-Tucker, but Brandon Moore clearly deserves one of the starting guard spots.
Moore’s under-the-radar-yet-dominant play is something of a secret in Jets land. Although he made just one Pro Bowl (2011), an argument can be made that he deserved multiple nods.
C: Nick Mangold
This was obviously between Nick Mangold and Kevin Mawae. While Mawae is a Hall-of-Famer and a Jets legend, he did not start or end his career with the team. That is why Mangold, who played his entire 11-year career with New York, gets the top spot over him.
Plus, some of Mawae’s most dominant seasons came before the turn of the century.
EDGE: John Abraham, Will McDonald
John Abraham’s inclusion on this list is a no-brainer. He has been New York’s best edge rusher over the last 25 years. Finding someone outside of him, though, is tricky.
A plethora of EDGE players, such as Bryan Thomas, are available. Despite playing all 11 years of his NFL career with the Jets, his single-season sack total of 8.5 doesn’t exactly shock the senses.
From a purely edge rushing perspective, though, McDonald’s 10-sack season last year was enough to get him on the list. It isn’t an easy group to grade, though.
DT: Shaun Ellis, Quinnen Williams
This was an easy one. Shaun Ellis and Quinnen Williams are New York’s best defensive tackles over the last few years. Ellis didn’t end his career with the Jets, but was an excellent starter during his tenure.
Williams, meanwhile, is one of the best interior defenders in the league today. Let’s also shout out some of the top-notch interior nasties the Jets have had throughout the years, particularly nose tackle Sione Pouha and run-stuffing 3-4 defensive end Mike DeVito
LB: Jonathan Vilma, David Harris
Jets fans will want Bart Scott, but he never reached a Pro Bowl or All-Pro with the team. Jonathan Vilma was an NFL Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowler. Davis Harris is a relatively easy choice for the other spot, as his playoff presence was felt and seen by Jets fans consistently
C.J. Mosley, meanwhile, was an excellent leader and Pro Bowl player in his own right, but he just missed the cut.
CB: Darrele Revis, Sauce Gardner
This is the strongest group of players at any position with the Jets. Darrelle Revis and Sauce Gardner are All-Pro stars and two of the best cornerbacks in the game during their era.
It was the easiest decision, but let’s also tip our hat to Antonio Cromartie.
S: Jamal Adams, Jim Leonhard
Love him or hate him, Jamal Adams has to be here. No other Jets safety in the franchise’s history has been named a First-Team All-Pro.
Kerry Rhodes and fan-favorite Jim Leonhard were the top two safeties from Rex Ryan’s days. Both were excellent players in their own right, making it a tough choice for the second spot.
Considering Rhodes was shipped out of town after the 2009 season, and Leonhard was a clear defensive leader, the man Rex chose as his book’s cover receives the honor.
K: Nick Folk
Nick Folk helped beat the Indianapolis Colts in a playoff showdown, and while there are many quality kickers in team history over the last few years, Folk is arguably the best of the group.
“Folk Hero,” everybody.
P: Steve Weatherford
Steve Weathford was a quality punter for the Jets during their playoff runs in the late 2000s. He was a bit more consistent than someone like Thomas Morstead.
Tom Tupa’s three-year Jets career spanned 1999 to 2001, and his lone award-winning season came before the new century.
Returner: Leon Washington
It’s pretty simple: Leon Washington was an excellent return specialist and an All-Pro during his time with the Jets.
Despite others nipping at his heels—particularly Justin Miller, Chad Morton, and the lovable Brad Smith—Leon firmly belongs on this list.