The New York Jets announced today the second class of inductees who will be enshrined in their Ring of Honor. The 2011 inductees are Larry Grantham, Freeman McNeil, Gerry Philbin and Al Toon.
These four players will be enshrined inside MetLife Stadium, bringing the total number of Jets Ring of Honor members to 10. They will be officially inducted in a ceremony that will take place at halftime when the Jets host the Dolphins on Monday night, Oct. 17.
"I am thrilled to welcome four incredible players into the Jets Ring of Honor this year." said Jets chairman and CEO Woody Johnson. "Not only do these men encapsulate all that it means to be a Jet, but they are exceptional ambassadors of the game of football."
The Ring of Honor inductees were selected by an internal committee led by Johnson. Each season inductees are nominated and added to the Ring of Honor. There is no minimum or maximum each year. Images of each Ring of Honor member also hang in the fieldhouse of the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, the team's practice facility and headquarters.
The Jets created the Ring of Honor last year to celebrate Jets greats and commemorate their place in team history. Members of the 2010 inaugural Ring of Honor class are Weeb Ewbank, Winston Hill, Joe Klecko, Curtis Martin, Don Maynard and Joe Namath.
Here are profiles on this year's four Ring of Honor inductees:
LARRY GRANTHAM
6'0", 210 ... Born Sept. 16, 1938, in Crystal Springs, Miss. ... Played his college ball at Mississippi. ... Drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 15th round (178th overall) of the 1960 NFL Draft and by the New York Titans as one of their First Selections in the first AFL Draft in 1960. ... Joined the Titans for their inaugural 1960 season and played all 13 of his pro seasons for the Titans and Jets. ... Started all 13 seasons at outside linebacker and played in 175 games. ... Wore uniform No. 60 his entire career. ... Started at RLB in Super Bowl III and was credited with three solo tackles and two passes defensed against the NFL team that drafted him. ... Voted the Jets' team MVP after the 1971 season. ... Named AFL All-Pro in his first five seasons as Titan/Jet. ... Played in five AFL All-Star Games, from 1962-64 and in '66 and '69. ... Had 24 career interceptions, with career-high five in his rookie season of '60 and again in '67. ... Scored three career touchdowns: fumble recovery at Boston in 1962, blocked punt return at Boston in '63 season opener, and interception return at Baltimore in '70. ... Also named to the second team of the AFL's all-time team after the league merged with the AFL.
FREEMAN MCNEIL
5'11", 216. ... Born April 22, 1959, in Jackson, Miss. ... Played collegiately at UCLA. ... Drafted by the Jets in the first round (third overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft. ... Played 12 season for the Jets, from 1981-92, and always wore No. 24. ... Played in 144 games, most by a RB in franchise history, with 97 starts. ... Led the Jets in rushing yardage for eight consecutive seasons. ... Set the Jets' single-season rushing record with 1,070 yards in 1984 and reset it the next season with 1,331 yards. ... Set the team single-game rushing mark with 202 yards in the playoff win at Cincinnati on Jan. 9, 1983. ... Finished his career after the 1992 season with 8,074 rushing yards, the franchise record until Curtis Martin broke it 12 years later in 2004. ... Also had 1,798 carries and 38 rushing TDs in his career. ... Added 295 receptions for 2,961 yards and 12 TDs, giving him 11,035 yards from scrimmage. ... Scored 50 TDs and 300 points in his Jets career. ... Voted the Jets' MVP by his teammates after the 1982 and '84 seasons. ... Also received the team's Ed Block Courage award after the 1990 season. ... Selected to play in the Pro Bowl after the 1982, '84 and '85 seasons. ... Named NFL All-Pro after the 1982 season.
GERRY PHILBIN
6'2", 245. ... Born July 31, 1941 in Pawtucket, R.I. ... Played his college ball at Buffalo. ... Drafted by the Jets in the third round (19th overall) of the 1964 AFL Draft and by Detroit in the third round (33rd overall) of the '64 NFL Draft. ... Played in 110 games over nine seasons for the Jets from 1964-72, starting the last eight seasons at LDE. ... Wore uniform No. 81 his entire Jets career. ... Finished his pro career for Philadelphia in 1973. ... Started at LDE in Super Bowl III and recorded two solo tackles in the Jets' 16-7 triumph over the Colts. ... Had 64.5 sacks in his Jets career, fourth on the team's all-time list. ... Also had seven fumble recoveries and one interception in his Jets career. ... Played in the 1968 and '69 AFL All-Star Games. ... Named to All-AFL first team after those two seasons. ... Also named to the first team of the AFL's all-time team after the league merged with the AFL.
AL TOON
6'4", 205. ... Born April 30, 1963, in Newport News, Va. ... Played collegiately at Wisconsin. ... Drafted by the Jets in the first round (10th overall) in the 1985 NFL Draft. ... Played eight pro seasons and 107 games (95 starts), all with the Jets, from 1985-92. ... Wore uniform No. 88 his entire Jets career. ... Led the Jets in receptions for six consecutive seasons, from 1986-91. ... Established career single-season highs with 1,176 receiving yards in '86 and a franchise-record 93 catches (for 1,067 yards) in '88. ... Also set the franchise mark with 101 consecutive games with at least one reception, a streak he began as a rookie and ended in his final season with the club. ... Finished his career with 517 receptions, 6,605 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 19 100-yard games. ... Voted Jets MVP by his teammates following the 1986, '87 and '88 seasons. ... Played in the Pro Bowl after those same three seasons. .. Named NFL All-Pro first-teamer after the 1986 season.
