The New York Jets stood arm-in-arm as a team on the sideline during the playing of the National Anthem at this afternoon's home opener against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium.
And among the Jets who linked arms with the players were Jets Chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson and head coach Todd Bowles.
"It was an honor and a privilege to stand arm-and-arm unified with our players during today's National Anthem," Johnson said in a statement. "We are very proud of our players and their strong commitment to work in our community to make a positive, constructive, and unifying impact."
After the game, 15th-year veteran QB Josh McCown said "it meant a ton" to him to line up to Johnson's right on the sideline during the anthem.
"It mean everything because it starts at the top," McCown said. "He came around and talked to some guys before the game about being there, and so for me that was, over my career, one of the more special things. Because no matter who you are, when you're at the top and you're willing to stand with your guys, I think there's nothing more that shows or reflects better leadership than that, when you say, 'I'm with you guys and we are together on this.' "
Rookie Jamal Adams, who lined up to Johnson's left, had a similar reaction.
"Unbelievable. It shows how much he cares about this team, how much he cares about this organization," Adams said. "For him to come up to everybody before the game one by one and ask if he could, I was all for it. I walked up to him and said, 'I'm going to stand right next to you.' I appreciate that, we appreciate that as a team, and it was outstanding."
