The New York Jets have had many great players suit up for them throughout their franchise history. Unfortunately, in some cases these players were past their prime…well, past their prime. Without further ado, here is the Jets All Time “Past Their Prime” Team

Quarterback – Brett Favre, Mike Vick, Boomer Esiason, David Garrard

This is the Jets, so they get to carry four quarterbacks. They got one year of Favre in 2008, where he was initially the player we saw in Green Bay before he broke down halfway through the season, leading to a missed playoff spot. In 2014, they got a lazy and disinterested Vick for one year. With Esiason they got a former four time Pro Bowler for three okay seasons (1993-1995), where his play gradually trailed off. Former Jaguars Pro Bowler Garrard was on the 2013 roster but never made it to the field due to injuries and the need to watch Matt Simms play (really).

Running Back – LaDainian Tomlinson, Matt Forte, Kevan Barlow

Future Hall of Famer Tomlinson joined the Jets for two seasons in 2010 and 2011. He was fairly productive but never passed 1,000 yards and gradually had his role limited in 2011 before retiring. Forte is a 2 time Pro Bowler who had the lowest rushing total of his NFL career last season with the Jets and is likely to be at a lower number than that this season. Barlow is a bit of a stretch but was on the Jets for one year after being a 1,000 yard back in San Francisco. He lost his job to Cedric Houston.

Wide Receiver – Art Monk, Webster Slaughter, Plaxico Burress, Derrick Mason, Curtis Conway

Monk is a Hall of Fame receiver and 3x Super Bowl champion who was on the Jets for a forgettable season in 1994. Slaughter was a 2x Pro Bowler who similar gave the Jets one forgettable season, this time in 1996. Super Bowl hero Burress was an effective red zone target in 2011 for the Jets but his legs were gone and he helped lead to a divided locker room, same goes for former Pro Bowler Mason who didn’t even last a full season and helped lead to the exit of fan favorite Jerricho Cotchery. After a productive career with the Bears and Chargers (where he went over 1,000 yards three times), Conway joined the Jets in 2003 as a failed replacement for Laveraneus Coles, who they lost to the Washington Redskins.

Tight End – Bubba Franks, Kellen Winslow Jr, Keith Byars

Franks was a Pro Bowl tight end for the Packers before joining the Jets in 2008, where he contributed all of 6 receptions and then retired. Winslow Jr was a Pro Bowl tight end for the Browns before joining the Jets in 2013 and tapered off after a productive start. He was eventually suspended and had a Boston Market “incident.” Byars was technically a running back but in reality, he was before his time as a H-Back. He was on the Jets for one year in 1998 after making the Pro Bowl for the Miami Dolphins and giving the Patriots a few productive years.

Offensive Live – Alan Faneca, Ryan Clady, Jumbo Elliot, Damien Woody, Scott Gragg

Faneca is a future Hall of Famer who gave the Jets a pair of solid (but not All-Pro) seasons before they decided to cut him after drafting Vlad Ducasse (fun!). The Jets traded a 5th round pick for Clady last season, a two time All-Pro, who couldn’t make it through the season for them and is now a free agent. Elliot had his best years with the Giants before a solid, but not spectacular run with the Jets. The same goes Woody who gave the team 3 strong years but never reached the Pro Bowl level he did with New England. Gragg started 149 games for the Giants and 49ers before ending his career in 2005 with the Jets.

Defensive Line – Chester McGlockton, Jason Taylor, Kimo Von Oelhoffen, Leonard Marshall, Kris Jenkins

McGlockton was a three time All-Pro who wrapped his career with one Jets season in 2003. Marshall is an all time great Giant who spent one season with them in 1993. Jason Taylor was a role player on the 2010 Jets before heading back to Miami the next year (this one always felt weird). Von Oelhoffen was a stalwart in Pittsburgh before playing a few banged up games for the Jets in 2006 under Eric Mangini. Jenkins was a two time All-Pro who spent three very banged up seasons on the Jets before retiring.

Linebacker – Sam Cowart, David Bowens, Pepper Johnson, Bryan Cox

Cowart was an All-Pro for the Bills before three relatively uneventful seasons for the Jets. After a productive run with the Dolphins, Bowens became a Jets role player for 2 years before following Eric Mangini to Cleveland. Pepper Johnson was an All-Pro for the New York Giants but finished his career with the Jets in 1998. Cox was a three time All-Pro for Miami before spending 1998-2000 with the Jets.

Cornerback – Darrelle Revis 2.0, Donnie Abraham, Aaron Beasley, Ty Law

This is the second iteration of Darrelle Revis after he was crowned a Super Bowl champ in New England, when he played 10 competent games for 70 million dollars and now can’t get a contract anywhere else. Donnie Abraham and Aaron Beasley were both brought over after more successful stints elsewhere for brief tenures in the early 2000s. Ty Law had a big year for the Jets in 2005, after being a Hall of Fame caliber player in New England but was then brought back one time too many in 2008.

Safety – Ronnie Lott, Steve Atwater, Ed Reed

The trifecta of Hall of Fame safeties who came to the Jets when they were washed up and a shell of their former selves.

Kicker – Nick Lowery

A two time All-Pro with the Kansas City Chiefs, before he finished his career with the Jets from 1994-1996.

Kick Returner – Dave Meggett

An All-Pro returner who spent one season with the Jets before he retired, where he is most remembered for muffing a kick return in the AFC Championship Game.

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Photo Credit: NFL.com

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