This team has had its share of memorable quarterbacks throughout franchise history, from legends to short-lived starters. Long before the big names and bright lights emerged, the team made its very first choice at the position. So, which quarterback did the NY Jets draft first?
Well, the answer might surprise you, and it’s not Joe Namath. His name is Sandy Stephens. The New York Titans, now called the Jets, picked Sandy Stephens in the second round of the 1962 AFL Draft. Before his time with the Jets, Sandy made a name for himself as a standout player at Minnesota. In addition to excelling on the field, he was the first African American quarterback to earn first-team All-America honors and led Minnesota to multiple Rose Bowl appearances. He capped off his college career by winning the MVP in 1961.
Although the Jets drafted him into the NFL, Sandy Stephens never played for the team because they tried to convert him to running back. Refusing the position change, he chose to continue his career as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League. Even with his outstanding college career, Sandy never played in the NFL. Sandy Stephens may not be as well-known as Joe Namath, Mark Sanchez, or many other Jets quarterbacks, yet he remains the team’s first draft pick in history.
Jets fans, we haven’t drafted a winning quarterback in many years. The team has struggled to find a successful quarterback in recent drafts. But with the right head coach, general manager, coaching staff, and players that we currently have, I believe we can make progress at the quarterback position. Not only at quarterback, but as a team as a whole, we can advance further. It will take time, but anything is possible, JetNation.
