Some of the greatest players in New York Jets franchise history emerged out of the team’s own backyard.
Kids who once spent every weekend watching the Jets play on television would go onto don the Green and White themselves. These players not only suited up for the Jets, but wound up becoming some of the more impactful players in franchise history.
The Jets have had a long history. Not every franchise legend has hailed from the New York and New Jersey areas, but some of them have. Let’s take a look at five of the best local players the Jets have had over the years.
Wayne Chrebet
Any list mentioning New York and New Jersey natives to play for the Jets that does not include wide receiver Wayne Chrebet is incomplete.
Chrebet grew up tiny Garfield, New Jersey. He played for Garfield High School before ascending to FCS Hofstra, where he set several school records tied Jerry Rice’s FCS record for touchdowns in a single game with five.
Chrebet went undrafted out of Hofstra, but caught on with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 1995 and remained with the organization until his retirement in 2005. In his 11 seasons with New York, Chrebet caught 580 passes (second in franchise history) for 7,365 yards and 41 touchdowns. He was inducted into the New York Jets Ring of Honor in 2014 and his number has not been issued to any Jets player since his retirement.
D’Brickashaw Ferguson
A native of Freeport, New York, Ferguson provided the Jets with consistency at left tackle for a decade, making him one of the greatest offensive linemen in franchise history.
The three-time Pro Bowler and former No. 4 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft started 160 consecutive games for the Jets and never missed a game in his NFL career. Ferguson also missed only one snap throughout the course of his career, playing 10,707 out of 10,708 regular season offensive snaps up until his retirement in 2016.
Ken O’Brien
O’Brien played his high school and college football in California, but when the Jets selected him in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft, it marked a homecoming for the Rockville Centre, New York native.
O’Brien never lit the world on fire in his nine years with the Jets, but he had some standout seasons with New York. In only his second season in the NFL, O’Brien led the league in passer rating, won the AFC Player of the Year award and earned one of his two Pro Bowl selections. His second Pro Bowl appearance came in 1991.
From 1984-1992, O’Brien amassed 24,386 passing yards and 128 touchdowns to only 98 interceptions with the Jets, making him one of the better quarterbacks in franchise history.
Vinny Testaverde
Testaverde played for seven teams throughout the course of his 21-year NFL career, but most of his success came in his seven years playing for the team he grew up rooting for.
The Brooklyn native turned in arguably the best season of his career with the Jets in 1998, earning one of his two career Pro Bowl appearances and leading New York to the AFC Championship game with a 12-1 record as a starter. He also led Gang Green to the postseason in 20021 and 2002.
In his two stints with the Jets (1998-2003, 2005), Testaverde threw for 12,497 yards, 77 touchdowns and only 58 interceptions.
Muhammad Wilkerson
Wilkerson’s time with the Jets ended poorly, but that does not take away what the Linden, New Jersey native accomplished in New York when he was at his best.
The Temple product earned two second-team All-Pro selections and one Pro Bowl appearance with the Jets. His best season with New York came in 2015, when he recorded 64 tackles and 12 sacks on a Jets team that nearly reached the postseason.
