Jets to honor ‘New York Sack Exchange’ with white throwback uniforms this season
The upcoming Jets season will feature a blast from the past, with the team set to debut alternate white uniforms honoring the franchise’s popular “New York Sack Exchange” era.
The “legacy white” uniforms unveiled Monday resemble the jerseys worn by prolific pass rushers including Joe Klecko and Mark Gastineau throughout the 1980s.
The modernized throwbacks, which the Jets will suit up in during Weeks 1 and 4, feature a white jersey and white pants combo with green numbers. The helmets are also green and incorporate the logo depicting a jet above the team name that was used from the late ‘70s to late ‘90s.
MetLife Stadium is set to display that logo at the 50-yard line during both games.
New quarterback Aaron Rodgers, cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams modeled the uniforms in an image shared Monday by Jets owner Woody Johnson.
The “New York Sack Exchange” refers to the Jets’ quartet of defensive linemen — Klecko, Gastineau, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam — that wreaked havoc on opposing offenses during the early ‘80s. All four were drafted by the Jets during the ‘70s.
The nickname dates back to 1981, when the Jets led the NFL with 66 sacks. Klecko was the NFL’s defensive player of the year that season, while Gastineau — the team’s all-time leader with 107.5 sacks — won the honor in 1982.
Klecko was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2010. Gastineau followed in 2012, and Lyons went in a year later.
The Jets are again set to honor Klecko during that Week 4 game against Kansas City for being a 2023 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That game is scheduled to take place Oct. 1 at MetLife Stadium.
Former cornerback Darrell Revis is also being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year and will be honored by the Jets during their Nov. 6 home game.
Gang Green plans as well to wear their “stealth black” alternate uniforms during a Black Friday home game against the Dolphins.
The Jets open the season Sept. 11 against the Bills, marking the team debut of the four-time NFL MVP Rodgers. The 39-year-old quarterback, who spent his first 18 seasons with the Packers, continues to bring extra attention to the Jets, who were recently chosen for HBO’s training camp documentary series “Hard Knocks.”
“Look, I understand the appeal with us. Obviously, there’s a lot of eyes on me, a lot of eyes on our team, a lot of expectations for our squad,” Rodgers told KPIX-TV after the team’s “Hard Knocks” selection.
“They forced it down our throats and we gotta deal with it.”
