- Joe Namath led the Jets to their only Super Bowl victory, a 16-7 win over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
- Curtis Martin is the only Jets player to rush for 10,000 yards or more.
- Darrelle Revis allowed 18 touchdowns during his time with the Jets.
The New York Jets, founded in 1959, have a lengthy history and have become one of the more prominent franchises in the NFL.
That said, looking through an NFL betting lens, the Jets have been mostly on the losing side of moneyline wagers since sports betting became legal in the United States in 2018, having not won more than seven games in a single season since.
Still, as I examine the football odds of the Jets of today at BetMGM online sportsbook, I can’t help but think of the teams of yesteryear, such as their Super Bowl III win over the Baltimore Colts with Joe Namath as their starting quarterback.
Below, I rank my top seven Jets of all time.
7 Best New York Jets of All Time, Ranked
| Rank | Player | Position | Jets Years |
| 1 | Joe Namath | QB | 1965-1976 |
| 2 | Curtis Martin | RB | 1998-2006 |
| 3 | Don Manyard | WR | 1960-1972 |
| 4 | Kevin Mawae | C | 1998-2005 |
| 5 | Darrelle Revis | CB | 2007-2012; 2015-2016 |
| 6 | Joe Klecko | DT | 1977-1987 |
| 7 | Mark Gastineau | DE | 1979-1988 |
1. Joe Namath
The Jets have only won one Super Bowl (Super Bowl III), and it was with Joe Namath as their starting quarterback. He also won the AFL Championship with the Jets in 1968.
He played for the Jets from 1965 through 1976 and was named Super Bowl III MVP, AFL Championship MVP, and AFL League MVP.
Namath earned his Super Bowl III MVP award after completing 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions in a 16-7 win over the Baltimore Colts.
Additionally, Namath was named Comeback Player of the Year in 1974, went to the Pro Bowl in 1972, and was named second-team All-Pro in 1972.
Other accolades include first-team All-AFL, three-time second-team All-NFL, a four-time AFL All-Star, and led the NFL in passing touchdowns and yards once.
Joe Namath was the first player in Pro Football history to throw for 4000 yards in a season (14 games)#Jets pic.twitter.com/b9DDe471kJ
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) April 13, 2024
The Jets retired his No. 12 after he threw for 27,057 yards and 170 touchdowns, which are both franchise records.
He’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2. Curtis Martin
Martin played for the Jets from 1998 to 2006 but didn’t play a down during the 2006 season. Still, over his eight active years, Martin racked up 2,560 carries for 10,302 yards and 58 touchdowns, all Jets franchise records.
He was a first-team All-Pro, a two-time second-team All-Pro, went to three Pro Bowls, and led the NFL in rushing once.
The Jets retired his No. 28, and he’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
3. Don Maynard
Maynard started his NFL career in 1958 but didn’t land with the Jets until 1960. At the time, the Jets were known as the New York Titans, but they changed their name to the Jets in 1963.
Over his career with the Jets, Maynard was on the Super Bowl III and 1968 AFL Championship rosters. He was a two-time first-team All-AFL and two-time second-team All-AFL, a four-time AFL All-Star, the co-leader for receiving touchdowns in the AFL in 1965, and is part of the AFL’s All-Time Team.
Maynard caught 627 passes for 11,732 yards and 88 touchdowns, with Namath throwing him the ball. These are all franchise records.
The team retired his No. 13, and he’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
4. Kevin Mawae
I’d consider Mawae one of the best centers in NFL history. He played for the Jets from 1998 to 2005.
During that time, Mawae was a five-time first-team All-Pro and a second-team All-Pro and went to six Pro Bowls.
He was a member of some excellent Jets offensive lines, including the 2000 team, which allowed just 20 sacks all year.
He played in 177 consecutive games before suffering a serious triceps injury during the 2005 season.
Mawae is in the Jets Ring of Honor and enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
5. Darrelle Revis
Revis had two stints with the Jets. He played there from 2007 as a rookie through 2012, returned in 2015, and played there through the 2016 season.
During his time with the Jets, he was a three-time first-team All-Pro and went to five Pro Bowls.
His nickname, “Revis Island,” was well-earned, as he was one of the best man coverage cornerbacks in the sport.
According to Pro Football Focus, Revis played 4,209 coverage snaps and allowed 18 touchdowns.
He also intercepted 25 passes (third), had three pick sixes (tied for third), 112 passes defended (first), 10 fumble recoveries, a sack, and 317 tackles.
Revis is in the Jets Ring of Honor and enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
6. Joe Klecko
With Mark Gastineau (next on the list) coming off the edge, Klecko helped clog the middle but was also a sack machine, racking up 78 as a nose tackle.
No other defensive tackle/nose tackle in Jets history has more than 43 sacks.
Klecko was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the NEA and PFWA in 1981, was a two-time first-team All-Pro, a second-team All-Pro, went to the Pro Bowl four times, led the league in sacks in 1981, and won the George Halas Award in 1982.
The Jets retired his No. 73, and he’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
7. Mark Gastineau
Gastineau, the Jets’ all-time sack leader, played in 137 games and recorded 107.5 tackles. No other Jets player has more than 80.
He and Klecko were key cogs in the “New York Sack Exchange” defence, which helped lead Gastineau to the NEA’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 1982.
Additionally, Gastineau was a four-time first-team All-Pro and a second-team All-Pro, went to five Pro Bowls, and led the NFL in sacks twice, with 19.0 in 1983 and 22.0 in 1984.