Shonn Greene busting through the trenches in San Diego for a monster rushing touchdown, Braylon Edwards winking at the skycam in Indianapolis, and Santonio Holmes letting out a triumphant roar — while sitting in the corner of a New England endzone — are just a few of the fond New York Jets fan memories that remain prevalent today.
Of course, each of these memories occurred in the NFL playoffs of the 2009 or 2010 season. Although for most football fans, newer memories may have bumped these decade-and-a-half memories from the forefront to the back of the mind, around these parts it’s what delivers the tremendous vibes.
There simply hasn’t been much to write home about in Jets land, which is the precise reason Rex Ryan remains so revered. After all, he was the last and most recent man to lead the Jets to actual success — making the AFC championship game in back-to-back seasons.
As fate would have it, not even those memories can pass without a challenge.
Earlier this week, Ryan, 63, turned himself in to Nashville police after his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run accident with his vehicle. Two pedestrians allegedly suffered lower-extremity injuries at the hands of Ryan, who was making a right turn at a red light in a popular Nashville, Ten., area.
Other than the feet jokes that write themselves — yes, the pedestrians’ feet were harmed as part of the “lower-extremity injuries” previously stated — the incident just piles more crap onto the Jets fans’ plate of unbelievable bad fortune.
Why, football gods, why?
Remember, the head coach isn’t the only man from the beloved Rex era to find himself in serious trouble since the start of the 2025 season. The quarterback is also dealing with his issues.
Mark Sanchez, the organization’s once fresh-faced franchise quarterback, was initially charged with misdemeanor counts of battery, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication following an October 2025 late-night incident in which the former Jets quarterback entered an individual’s truck that was parked at a hotel loading dock in Indianapolis, Ind.
The charges were later upgraded to include a felony count of battery resulting in serious bodily injury. In September 2026, it was learned that Sanchez planned to plead guilty to at least one of the involved charges, while the two sides continued to work out the civil case.
While many details of the case are still unknown, what’s not up for debate is how unfortunate the situation remains. This holds true even for Jets fans who held Sanchez near and dear to their hearts.
Other NFL teams may not be able to relate, but remember: this man delivered four road playoff victories for the Jets. His professional career may not have panned out the way Mike Tannenbaum initially envisioned when he selected him No. 5 overall in the 2009 NFL draft, but he certainly made his mark on the league.
Now, on top of the team’s putrid 2-7 record, led by head coach Aaron Glenn’s historical struggles, while also working on a 16th-straight season without making the playoffs and an 11th-straight losing campaign, Rex joins this unfortunate party.
Separate the human from the memory
It’s been said many times in the entertainment industry: Always try to separate the human from the artist. Granted, this is easier said than done.
For many, a certain 1980s family sitcom starring one of the most popular comedians in the world (at the time) is no longer watchable due to reprehensible personal life accusations made by numerous women. This is more than understandable.
For others, reversals on actors and boycotts of companies for political reasons are also very much in play. Some of the world refuses to separate personal life from entertainment or political stances from free-market capitalism.
How do sports fans navigate such a tricky situation? After all, a major component of sports fandom is the idea that you may see something extremely personal and/or admirable about an athlete.
Perhaps the best answer is as follows: Allowing any favorite or memory to be ruined by individual actions is to pretend that we already know everything about all athletes at all times.
We don’t, and to pretend we do know the people we see on our screens is why we initially run into trouble.
Yet, the human does matter
Growing up, Al Toon was the first football player I revered. Although I was young, I understood why he retired early from the game, though it didn’t make it any less disappointing.
Next was Barry Sanders, and part of the reason I became such a fan was because of his humble attitude. Each time he casually flipped the ball to the referee after crossing the goal line, I tuned in that much more.
I genuinely believe that, behind Joe Namath, Wayne Chrebet is the most beloved Jets player of all time. It has more to do with what he represented as an athlete than with what he actually accomplished on the field — yet his accomplishments were tremendous.
Chrebet’s underdog nature, coupled with his tough-as-nails demeanor, attracted Jets fans en masse during a tough time (the Rich Kotite era). The cherry on top is the idea that Chrebet the person is just as legendary.
The man literally sacrificed his health for the betterment of the New York Jets and, by association, Jets fans. So, how in the world can any fan separate the human from the entertainment? They simply cannot.
Separating the human from the memory is what’s important.
No matter what happens with Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez in their personal lives, what the two of them did should never look or feel any different than how fans had already painted it in their minds.
Yes, folks, things are still brutal for this franchise. But guess what? These off-the-field situations don’t change a thing about those jubilant New York Jets fan memories of yesteryear.
For the actual organization, perhaps it’s a sign: Enough with the old. Enough with the Rex Ryan era glorification. No more hiring and rubbing elbows with actual media members — inviting Rex Ryan to speak at camp, interviewing him for the coaching job, and hiring Mike Tannenbaum to help lead the coaching search.
It’s time for something breathtakingly new and refreshing.
