At several points throughout their history, the New York Jets have found themselves in possession of some all-time great offensive talent. The Jets were rather fearsome in their early years, much thanks to Joe Namath and Ken O’Brien as well as Emerson Boozer and Freeman McNeil.
They haven’t been lacking in talented wide receivers, either, which allowed Broadway Joe and O’Brien to thrive with the franchise.
Here are the top five wide receivers in Jets history.
5. Laveranues Coles (2000-02; 2005-08)
While Coles never linked up with Mark Sanchez, he had a pretty great Jets tenure with Vinny Testaverde and Chad Pennington under center.
Many seasoned Jets fans will fondly remember Coles’ role in the 2000 “Monday Night Miracle,” when the Jets scored 30 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime against the Miami Dolphins, where they would later win. With the Jets trailing 30-7, Coles hauled in his first career touchdown, a 30-yard strike from Testaverde, to open the barrage of scoring.
Coles returned to New Jersey after a few years in Washington, and was a featured target for Pennington, amassing at least 845 yards in three of his four seasons during his second tenure with the Jets.
Coles was more consistent than awe-inspiring, making his sole Pro Bowl with Washington, but his 37 touchdowns are fourth among Jets wide receivers.
4. Al Toon (1985-1992)
The Jets’ first-round pick in 1985 out of Wisconsin, Toon lived up to his expectations as a featured target of O’Brien’s.
While he only started eight games in his rookie year, he experienced an excellent three-year stretch from 1986 to 1988, being named an All-Pro in 1986, making three straight Pro Bowls and hauling in 1,000 yards in two of the three.
Toon was named a team captain in 1990 after being limited by injuries in 1989. While the Jets were eliminated in the Wild Card by the Houston Oilers in 1991, it was through no fault of Toon’s, as the then-veteran caught eight passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.
3. Wayne Chrebet (1995-2005)
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Chrebet is living proof that it pays to be local. An undersized receiving prospect out of Hofstra, Chrebet went undrafted in 1995 and would’ve never made the cut in the NFL had the Jets not practiced in Nassau County.
Chrebet was granted a walk-on opportunity with the Jets, placing 11th on the Jets’ wide receiver depth chart at his first training camp.
Despite overwhelmingly small odds, Chrebet made the Jets’ 53-man roster, and started every possible game in his rookie year. Chrebet never had any jaw-dropping seasons, but he was a beacon of consistency in every sense of the word, hauling in over 700 yards in six of his first seven seasons.
In a game against the Buccaneers in 2000, Chrebet caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from running back Curtis Martin with 51 seconds left to give the Jets a 21-17 win and earn Chrebet the nickname “Green Lantern.” Chrebet’s 7,365 yards ranks third in Jets history, as do his 41 touchdowns.
2. Wesley Walker (1977-1989)
A lifelong Jet, Walker was nearly unmatched in his deep-threat ability and resilience. On the field, Walker’s 71 touchdowns ranks second in Jets history, as does his 8,306 career receiving yards.
A second round pick out of California, Walker hauled in 438 receptions and averaged an exceptional 19 yards per catch. His best season was in 1978, when he made his first Pro Bowl and was named a first-team All-Pro.
Away from the stat sheet, Walker’s achievements look even more unbelievable, as he played his entire career legally blind in his left eye due to a childhood injury. Despite all he had to overcome, his sizzling speed and precise route running allowed him to thrive in the NFL.
Walker was inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor in 2012 alongside legendary teammate Mark Gastineau.
1. Don Maynard (1960-1972)
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Maynard was not only one of the best Jets players of all time, but he was quite literally the first player to sign with the team when it incorporated as the New York Titans in 1960.
Like Walker, much of Maynard’s legend comes from his deep threat ability, as his 18.7 yards per reception is an all-time record for players with over 600 receptions. His 11,732 receiving yards are far and away the most by any Jets player in history.
Much like other legendary Jets players of yore, Maynard helped Joe Namath’s team pull off the ultimate upset in Super Bowl III over the Baltimore Colts; despite being hampered with a hamstring injury suffered in the AFL Championship game, his mere presence preoccupied the attention of the Colts’ defensive backs, opening up opportunities for receiver George Sauer, who hauled in eight catches for a game-high 133 yards.
He rightfully earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, and remains one of the most impactful players in franchise history.
More New York Jets Essentials
- Every QB Drafted by the Jets
- 5 Best Quarterbacks in Jets History
- 5 Best Running Backs in Jets History
- 5 Best Wide Receivers in Jets History
- NFL’s Richest Owners: Where Does the Johnson Family Rank?
