My Favorite In Team History: New York Jets

In this series, I will be looking back on each NFL team and choosing my favorite logo, uniform, moment, and player in the history of that team. Next up, the New York Jets!

That classic Jets look. Brings you back to Super Bowl III where they upset the Baltimore Colts. The white helmet with the two green stripes. They recently moved away from that look again, and thank goodness, I can't stand them. There are a few reasons, and maybe you will understand why I feel this way.

I am a fan of the '80s and '90s look. The era where they had the "Jets" logo with the jet flying across the wordmark. Now, I don't necessarily LOVE that logo, I liked it, but everything else about those uniforms was great. They had two different styles during that period. They had the green and white version, where they had the white facemasks, plain stripes on the shoulders (white on green jerseys, and green on white jerseys), and the same style for the numbers. That was my favorite look for the Jets in the history of the team. The other version is very similar to what they wear now. The had the same green lid, with the same Jets logo, but the facemasks were changes to black and the stripes on the shoulders, and the numbers had a black outline around them. While it isn't a bad look, I just think the plain green and white looks better. But then again, I truly love simple uniforms.

So that brings us all the way back to modern-day. The New York Jets finally moved on (again) from that old "classic" look and went back to a similar uniform to the one I just mentioned. With a modern twist of course. I don't dislike these uniforms, but I don't love them either. They are "okay". But they could be a lot better in my eyes with a few changes, and I'm not even talking about going straight green and white (even though I would love that). First things first, get rid of that big "NEW YORK" on the chest and bring the numbers higher on the jersey. I don't know why teams keep doing this. You saw how bad it was on the Browns jerseys, but then you have the Jets jump aboard that train last year and they Falcons jump on this year with their big "ATL" wordmark. I don't get it. It just doesn't look good, to me at least.

Next, keep the stripe on the shoulders but keep it off the front of the jersey. It's not as big of a problem as the wordmark, but I think it would look a lot better without the elongated stripe. With that in mind, change the stipe on the pants from that long pointed stripe to a traditional stripe that runs along the side of the pants and you got a good looking uniform. I know, it brings it closer to looking like the previous version of the green and black unis. Even so, now they have a new number font and a new logo when compared to the older version. So while it would be very similar, it would still be different, without all that added "noise" if you will.

And speaking of the logo, it really is a love-hate relationship with these Jets logos. For one, I have always had a problem with the "classic" logo. I never liked the "NY" outline in the background. It just looked off to me. Then you have the Jets logo with the jet on it. While I do like this one better, the actual jet wasn't that well illustrated lol. I mean, if it wasn't on a logo that said "Jets", you wouldn't know what it was. Then you have the logo of today. I actually really like the logo on the helmets. It is very simple and to the point, without the added "NY" outline in the background or the jet that doesn't really look like a jet. It's just "JETS" with a simple football. Perfect. Except when you have it with the ACTUAL logo. The football-shaped badge (if you will) with the logo I just praised and the "NEW YORK" wordmark, that I don't like, on top of it. All of that together just brings it all back to square one. Why couldn't they just leave it as it is on the helmets? You don't need all that other stuff around it.

Before we move on to my favorite player and moment in Jets history, I wanted to highlight a concept that designer Brain Begley created. The logo and uniforms are top-notch, in my opinion, and could really have been in the top tier of NFL uniforms if they went this way. The alternate uni is different but it is my favorite.

As you can see, he does use the '80s-'90s logo on the helmet, which is fine. As I said, I do like that logo. But his other logo is excellent. As a secondary logo, putting that on the upper left chest of the jersey is a great feature. Not only that, but he keeps the main unis simply green and white, adding back the white facemask, which is my preferred choice. He has a single stripe on the shoulders and the pants, just like I would have it. I don't LOVE the jet shadow design on the top of the jerseys but it is a cool modern touch. The number font is simply perfect and that 3rd uni is beautiful. It's obviously quite different from the home and away unis but I think this would be a big hit. That combo of black with that military green (at least that is what the color looks like to me) is such a good look. But as much as I could keep talking uniforms all day I have to keep the train moving. So let's move on shall we.

My favorite Jets player of all time is Curtis Martin, really by default. Through my time watching football, there hasn't been one player I was ever fond of who played for the Jets. That was the case until Martin left the Patriots and signed with the Jets. Now for those of you who don't know me, I am from Boston. The Patriots are my hometown team. The years where they wore the logo on the shoulders were my favorite years as a Pats fan. Curtis Martin was part of that for 3 years. So it was basically "my running back" going to another team. Though the Pats would go on to win 3 Super Bowls in his time with the Jets, I just wonder how much better the Pats would have been if he had stayed.

I know this turned into a Patriots thing, but hell, the Jets have had 6 seasons with 10 or more wins since '94. I mean come on. They haven't had the best group of players in my football lifetime. The biggest names that come to mind when I think about the Jets are Joe Namath, which was before my time, and Derrell Revis, who I never really liked but came to New England to win a Super Bowl. Which will be my best moment in New York Jets history (lol I kid). It's in my nature to poke the New York fans a bit. Boston fans are supposed to hate New York teams, but I actually like the Rangers, Sabres, and Bills quite a lot. I also adopted the New York Guardians as my official XFL team and bought Guardian merch, you know, before it all went to hell.

In all seriousness though, I don't really have a moment in Jets history that bring up fond memories. Whenever I thought about the Jets it was always about how much I wish they changed their uniforms. I think about Joe's guarantee, Martin and Revis, and the butt fumble lol. Hey, with Brady gone and the Patriots ship seeming to sink, the AFC East is a brand new ball game. I may be a Patriots fan but I am not oblivious. I am completely fine seeing the Pats hit bottom and watching the Jets, Dolphins, and Bills fight it out to win the East. That is what football is all about and I love it. If the Jets become the kings of the East then I will be here enjoying every minute of it. I look forward to forming fond memories of the New York Jets.

That wraps up this edition of "My Favorite In Team History". This is the 8th, so if you missed the last 7 make sure you check out the NFL category and read up on them. Do you have different favorites? Especially favorite moments. Let me know on twitter. I would love to hear all of the cool moments that mean something to all of you!

Jets Concept Logo & Unis - http://www.iambrianbegley.com/projects/new-york-jets-2019-uniform-concepts/

Jets List of Seasons - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_New_York_Jets_seasons

Pictures - Google.com