The five best quarterbacks in New York Jets history
Sam Darnold enters his second season with plenty of potential, which has us thinking about the best signal callers to don the green and white. So let’s hop into the time machine and revisit the top five quarterbacks in Jets history. Jets fans hope by the end of Darnold’s career, he vaults to number one on the list.
No. 5 Mark Sanchez (2009-2012): The Sanchize guided the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances in 2009 and 2010. Sanchez posted a 4-2 record in the postseason for the Jets with nine touchdowns and only three interceptions. Overall, Sanchez had a 94.3 passer rating in the playoffs. Sanchez’s mediocre regular season numbers prevents him from ranking higher. Sanchez had 68 touchdowns and 69 interceptions in the regular season. Oh, and we can’t forget the notorious butt fumble.
No. 4 Vinny Testaverde (1998-2003, 2005): The 35-year-old Testaverde found the fountain of youth when he arrived in New York in 1998, as he made the Pro Bowl and took the Jets to the AFC Championship Game. In his inaugural campaign, Testaverde racked up 29 touchdowns, only seven interceptions and a 101.6 passer rating. Testaverde suffered a season ending injury in 1999 but in 2000 secured his legacy with Gang Green by tossing five touchdowns in the Monday Night Miracle win vs. the Dolphins. Testaverde spent seven years with the Jets and is fifth in team history in passing yards.
No. 3 Ken O’Brien (1984-1992): The Jets selected O’Brien instead of future Hall of Famer Dan Marino in the 1983 draft. However, O’Brien went on to have a solid eight-year tenure with the Jets. Ironically, O’Brien’s most memorable moment came against Marino. In 1986, O’Brien passed for 479 yards and four touchdowns to defeat Marino’s Dolphins in a 51-45 shootout. O’Brien made the Pro Bowl twice and finished with 124 touchdowns and 95 interceptions. O’Brien never won a playoff game but he did lead the Jets to the postseason twice as a starter.
No. 2 Chad Pennington (2000-2007): Injuries robbed Pennington of a longer career with the Jets but he certainly made the most of his time in the Meadowlands. Pennington logged 82 touchdowns and only 55 interceptions as a Jet. The savvy Pennington led the league in passer rating in 2002. In that same season, Pennington guided the Jets to an AFC East title and passed for three touchdowns in a 41-0 shutout in the Wild Card round vs. the Colts. After a slew of injuries, Pennington proved his poise by bouncing back to capture Comeback Player of the Year in 2006.
No. 1 Joe Namath (1965-1976): The only Super Bowl champion quarterback in Jets history. Broadway Joe cemented his status as a cultural icon with his legendary guarantee prior to the Jets 16-7 Super Bowl III victory against the NFL’s Baltimore Colts. The proclamation has been passed on from generation to generation of Jets fans. The Jets were heavy 18-point underdogs but Namath overcame the odds and proved that the AFL was legit, paving the way for a merger with the NFL. A five-time Pro Bowler, Namath is the Jets all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. Namath also has the most interceptions in franchise history but his gunslinging ways paid dividends when the lights were brightest. That’s why his bust resides in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
