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Derek Tabacco poses as Rescue Man in his kitchen after winning the New York Jets' contest to become the next Fireman Ed.

(Courtesy of Derek Tabacco)

Forget about Fireman Ed, it's Rescue Man's turn to lead New York Jets fans at Sunday's Jets' home-opener at MetLife Stadium.



And Rescue Man is no other than Annadale's Derek Tabacco, who was one of eight season-ticket holders to win a recent online contest held by the team to replace longtime chant leader Fireman Ed of Queens. The eight winners will get one home game each to lead the chants, and Tabacco will be the first.



"It's the most exciting day of my life," said the 44-year-old. "It definitely feels like Christmas morning right now for me. I'm shocked and happy about all the outpouring support I got from Staten Island."



Tabacco was one of 22 finalists in the hunt for the job. Candidates had to submit a 15-second video showing why they should be the next Jets' chant leader. After being voted the winner, Tabacco has since expanded the video to around 30 seconds.





Tabacco, a season-ticket holder for the Jets since MetLife opened in 2010 and one of the team's biggest fans around, submitted his video early last week, but said he wasn't originally on the semifinal list.



However, his name and video was mysteriously posted on the team's website Thursday, a day after the voting for the contest began and the day before it was to end.

"I looked at some of the other videos and thought mine was way better than theirs and when I wasn't one of the semifinalists I started blasting it on Facebook and tweeting it out," he said. "Plus, a lot of my friends are Jets' season-ticket holders and voiced their opinions to the Jets."



Tabacco said it was the story on SILive.com that pushed him over the edge and eventually made him one of the winners.



"I think it was the SILive story that made it happen," said Tabacco. "Not everyone knew about it, and once it hit the web it really took off and I was able to pass it around on the social media."



Tabacco and the seven other winners will meet with Jet officials Tuesday to discuss all the particulars. But you can expect to see Tabacco leading the chants come Sunday when the Jets host the Oakland Raiders at 1 p.m.



He says he plans on sticking with Fireman Ed's long-running J-E-T-S chant.



"The Jets fans know that chant for decades so I'm not going to try and reinvent the wheel," he explained. "Fireman Ed did a great job and I'm just going to keep it the same."



Tabacco, a former Wall Streeter who now runs a non-for-profit organization, doesn't know if he will sit in his seat at MetLife in Section 118 or that he will be moved somewhere else.



He said he will sit on his younger brother Todd's shoulders to lead the chants.



"I sit with about 30 people that I know in Section 118 so I'll be happy to stay there," he said. "But if they want to move me that would be fine."



Tabacco is referred to as Rescue Man because he rallied volunteers to help 10,000 people after Hurricane Sandy hit the Island.



He is currently the president of Guyon Rescue, a volunteer group that helps folks get back into their homes from the damage caused by Sandy.



"I set up a tent on Guyon Avenue the day after Sandy hit," said Tabacco. "We helped distribute supplies and helped mock out 750 homes and rebuild 250 others. Almost two years later, we are committed to the long-term recovery to get people back in their homes."

And after doing all that, leading 82,566 fans in the Meadowlands on Sunday should be a walk in the park.