Continuing our series of Hall of Famer players you may not remember playing for the local teams, it seems that the Jets were made for such an exercise. Of the 16 inductees in Canton who played for the team, half were with Gang Green for two seasons or fewer. Do you remember these eight players suiting up for New York?
(If you missed any of the previous entries, jump to NYY | BOS | NYM | NYG)
Steve Atwater: One of the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the safety Atwater is a member of the Class of 2020 (that will be inducted in 2021). The eight-time Pro Bowler spent the first decade of his career in Denver, capped by back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998. However, his final professional season was spent with the Jets, where he started 11 games, forced a fumble and didn't have any interceptions. After the season he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Bronco, and two decades later is immortalized as such in Canton.
Brett Favre: It was only one season, but you probably remember it. The Favre retirement saga was the storyline of summer 2008 as the Packers were ready to hand the reins to Aaron Rodgers. After it was clear Favre wanted to return, and just as clear that it wouldn't be as the Green Bay starter, he was dealt in August 2008 to the Jets. At age 39 he started all 16 games (of course), going 9-7 and making the Pro Bowl despite leading the league with 22 interceptions. In February 2009 he told the team he was retiring again, was officially ff the reserve/retired list by May, and in August un-retired a second time to sign with the Vikings.
Ty Law: After a successful decade with the Patriots in which he won three Super Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro, Law was limited to seven games in 2004 and was cut that offseason, saving New England over $12 million in cap space. The cornerback stayed in the AFC East, signing a three-year deal with the Jets and immediately returned to form. In 2005 he led the NFL with 10 interceptions and made the Pro Bowl, but it didn't matter. After one year he was a cap casualty, getting released and signing with Kansas City.
But his Jets tenure doesn't end there. After two years with the Chiefs he was unsigned for the start of the 2008 season, before New York picked him up for the final seven games. He was released again that winter and played his final season in Denver.
Ronnie Lott: One of the best safeties of all-time, Lott left San Francisco after a decade in 1991 to sign with the Raiders. Two years later he was again a free agent and, at age 34, came to an agreement with the Jets. Over the next two years he would start 31 games, collecting 229 tackles and six forced fumbles. He became a free agent again after that, briefly signing with the Chiefs and 49ers (again) before injuries became too much and he retired before the 1995 season.
Art Monk: Among the first big-time statistical wide receivers in NFL history, Monk spent 14 seasons in Washington and remains the franchise record holder for receptions (888) and receiving yards (12,026) while winning three Super Bowls. But after starting just five games in 1993 and catching just 41 passes for 398 yards he moved on to the Jets. He became a regular starter again in 1994 but at age 37 was well past his prime, catching 46 passes for 581 yards and three touchdowns. The next year he played three games for the Eagles before calling it quits.
Ed Reed: Another legendary defensive back - the Jets seem keen on finding them late in their careers - the Ravens' Super Bowl win marked the final game for Reed after 11 years and eight All-Pro seasons in Baltimore. A free agent, he signed a three-year deal with the Texans in 2013, but midway through the season lost his starting job and was released by November. He was unemployed for two days before New York jumped in, reuniting Reed with Rex Ryan. In seven games he was effective, picking off three passes and defending four more before retiring.
Jason Taylor: After 12 years and 124 sacks with the Dolphins, Taylor was traded to Washington in 2008, but was cut after one season because he wanted to be closer to his family. So he re-signed with Miami in 2009, racking up seven more sacks before hitting free agency. He chose to stay in the AFC East, inking a two-year deal with the Jets. But after a 2010 season in which he started five games and recorded just five sacks he was released, returning to the Dolphins again for his final NFL season in 2011.
LaDainian Tomlinson: Like many running backs, Tomlinson appeared to hit the impervial wall at age 30. After a somewhat contentious negotiation to remain a Charger for 2009 he had his worst statistical season, failing to hit the 1,000-yard mark for the first time and putting up career lows in yards (731) and yards per carry (3.3). That offseason he was released by San Diego, and he wound up going cross-country to sign a two-year contract with the Jets. In 2010 he found a bit of a resurgence, finishing with 914 yards and catching 52 passes as he split time with Shonn Greene. The wheels mostly fell off in 2011, though, as he rushed for just 280 yards and one touchdown, added another 449 yards and a pair of scores through the air, and retired as a Charger.
