The New York Jets have not made the NFL playoffs in 16 years.
Many of the Jets franchise legends who have participated in the team’s past playoff success are trying to bring the right juju to change that.
Throughout the first week of training camp in Florham Park, plenty of noteworthy former Jets players have arrived to show their support. On Saturday, it was Wayne Chrebet, Laveranues Coles, Adrian Murrell, Ray Mickens, and Fred Baxter.
Tuesday’s practice featured even more Jets alumni. Damien Woody and Victor Green were on hand.
Woody was a key part of the last two Jets teams to make the playoffs. He spent three years with the team (2008-10), contributing to AFC championship game runs in 2009 and 2010.
A former first-round pick of the rival New England Patriots, Woody initially played center in New England before switching to guard. After five seasons with the Patriots, he spent four seasons in Detroit, where he switched to right tackle in his final season. In 2008, Woody joined the Jets as their starting right tackle, spending his final three NFL seasons in New York as part of the NFL’s best offensive line over that span.
In 2026, the Jets are hoping to have found their right tackle of the future in Armand Membou, whose battles with second-overall pick David Bailey have been the talk of camp. One can assume that Membou can gather plenty of valuable insight from the Jets’ former AFC championship-bound right tackle.
Green spent nine seasons with the Jets (1993-2001) as a safety, playing alongside current Jets head coach Aaron Glenn for eight of those seasons. One of the best undrafted free agent pickups in Jets history, Green racked up 859 tackles and 24 interceptions in his time with the team.
Green will observe a revamped safety unit in Florham Park. His former position has been a major weakness for the Jets in recent years, but they are expecting that to change in 2026 with the addition of Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The three-time All-Pro has seen a dip in his interception production in recent years, partially due to role changes. However, Fitzpatrick is expected to move back to his natural free safety position under Glenn, which would give him an opportunity to return to his peak as a ball-hawk. Fitzpatrick led the NFL with six interceptions in 2022; the last Jets safety to pick off six passes was Green, back in 2000.
If Membou and Fitzpatrick can replicate the best of Woody and Green’s tenures in New York, the Jets could go further than many people expect this season.
