Don’t anybody dare encroach on a hardened New York Jets fan of the 1980s. Doing so, while shoving a pointer finger in the fan’s chest with gusto and proclaiming that Joe Klecko doesn’t deserve a spot on the Jets Mount Rushmore, could lead to serious trouble.
Seriously, don’t try that at home, folks.
The diehard fan of Ronald Reagan’s decade who watched the Jets remembers Klecko’s luchpail nature. Descriptors such as “brilliance” or “talent” aren’t exactly tagged to Klecko’s name, which is precisely why his place in New York Jets history is cemented.
Instead, Klecko featured grit, determination, and dominance by sheer will.
Yet, as true as that is, Joe Klecko probably doesn’t make the Mount Rushmore cut.
Jets X-Factor’s first-ever crack at the New York Jets Mount Rushmore did not include No. 73. Back in May of 2020—just a couple of months into Jet X’s existence—Joe Namath, Don Maynard, Darrelle Revis, and Curtis Martin took the four spots.
Check Out Jets X-Factor's Official New York Jets Mount RushmoreNonetheless, the rational fan wouldn’t begrudge anybody for throwing Klecko on the list instead of Revis or Martin. (In my humble opinion, Namath and Maynard are the two locks; but that’s another story for a different day.)
Needless to say, this particular Mount Rushmore is one of the toughest to attack. Unlike most franchises, the Jets showcase a five-man band of candidates for just four spots.
Interestingly, the chore’s difficulty presents other opportunities. What about a different type of Mount Rushmore altogether? What if a Jets Mount Rushmore was assembled based on one specific category all about the fans?
Ladies and gents, let’s configure the New York Jets “Fan-Favorite” Mount Rushmore.
Joe Namath
Our list begins with the same man who kicks off the Jets’ standard Mount Rushmore: Joe Willie.
In many ways, Joe Namath isn’t just a significant piece of New York Jets history but also the entirety of Jets history. Granted, that angle is quite defeatist and shortchanges far too many individuals and teams.
When thinking about it from a general perspective, however, one could understand the idea.
Namath’s impact on the sport is undeniable. His Super Bowl 3 guarantee and leadership role in the Jets’ stunning 16-7 victory over the Baltimore Colts serve as the first salvo for the game we know today. He quite literally spearheaded the NFL-AFL merger and the modern league.
Plus, Namath’s pop culture impact forever remains something of a legend. The man who was simply “trying to get by” deserves the top spot on both Mount Rushmores (standard and fan-favorite).
Joe Klecko
There goes that man, No. 73, Joe Klecko.
With fat fingers taped and a mess of a face that’s tough to describe, the greatest defensive lineman in team history is finally where he belongs: in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After far too many decades of oversight, Klecko’s overwhelming nature finally did the job.
Make no mistake: Klecko can easily squeeze onto the standard Mt. Rushmore, but it would have to come at the expense of Revis or Martin.
For those who go in that direction, hey, I wouldn’t begrudge you. A tremendous argument can be made for placing Klecko in one of the four spots in Revis’s or Martin’s stead.
Nevertheless, he’s a shoo-in as one of the three locks on the Jets’ fan-favorite Rushmore.
Wayne Chrebet
The third of the three locks is none other than Jets X-Factor’s own Wayne Chrebet.
One-half of The Underdog Jets Podcast remains the last man to wear No. 80 for a meaningful reason. Although the number is technically not retired, the organization has ensured that nobody has worn it since Chrebet hung up the cleats in 2005.
Like Klecko, fans fell in love with Chrebet for his underdog nature.
Undrafted out of Hofstra, Chrebet walked onto the 1995 squad under Rich Kotite. One of the longshots of the century, the smaller-stature Chrebet played larger than any player on the field.
Say what you’d like about New York sports fans, but they respect the hell out of the workmanlike hustler. And Wayne Chrebet sacrificed everything he could to lay out for a clutch third-down ball.
Even today, those green and white No. 80 jerseys remain the most popular worn by fans at MetLife Stadium.
Wesley Walker
This list’s fourth and final spot takes a similar path to the standard Mount Rushmore. There’s no clear-cut choice.
The list of candidates is long:
- Don Maynard
- Mark Gastineau
- Curtis Martin
- Nick Mangold
- Kevin Mawae
- Al Toon
- Chad Pennington
However, Wesley Walker receives the nod at the end of the day.
The No. 4 spot probably boils down to a battle between Wesley Walker and Mark Gastineau. The latter was incredibly popular in the early to mid-1980s. Unfortunately, a lot transpired in the Gastineau business towards the end of the decade and thereafter.
On the other hand, Walker has been as consistent a figure in Jets history as can be.
Playing in the National Football League while legally blind in his left eye, Walker ranks among the greatest wide receivers in franchise history. His 8,306 receiving yards rank second only to Don Maynard, and his 438 receptions tie him for fifth with tight end Mickey Shuler.
His high-flying play at Shea Stadium and on the old Giants Stadium astroturf truly stamps Walker on the Jets’ fan-favorite Mt. Rushmore.
Walker led the NFL in 1978 with an obscene 24.4 yards per catch. He caught balls from quarterback Richard Todd during the early part of his career, but kept going when Ken O’Brien was drafted in 1983.
Paired with another fan-favorite in Al Toon, Walker’s vertical speed and acrobatics endeared him to the very same fans who’d fight anybody who spoke ill of one of his teammates, Joe Klecko.