The 2017-18 offseason was a heartbreaking one for Jets fans. Nick Mangold aka “the Anchor” retired from football, David “the Hitman” Harris moved on, and now it seems Darrelle Revis has joined them.
Revis is known as one of the best corners to ever play the game. Some could argue he is the best of all time, but for certain he is the best of the modern 21st century without a doubt. Not too many players come from the Jets that fans can proudly say “He was a Jet” and hold their heads high, but Revis was one of them.
On July 18 the GOAT hung it up, announcing via social media his retirement from the game.
— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) July 18, 2018
The Beginning
Darrelle Revis was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft which is arguably the greatest draft in the history of the NFL. This considering other superstars like Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch and Lawrence Timmons came out of that draft. In his first season with the Jets, Revis played in and started all 16 games, racked up 3 interceptions, deflected 17 passes, snagged 1 fumble and hit 74 tackles (assisting on another 13). It was clear to the Jets brass that he was going to be special.
First Stint with the Jets
From his Draft year in 2007 through 2013 when he was traded to the Bucs, Revis became a force to not be reckoned with. His first Pro Bowl appearance came in 2008, his sophomore year after racking up 5 interceptions and returning 1 for a touchdown, deflecting 16 passes, forcing a fumble while recovering 2 other and actually sacking the QB once. If that doesn’t scream Pro Bowl, then I don’t know what would. Not to mention Revis was also First Team All-Pro that year.
His campaign of greatness didn’t end there. The next year, 2009, he did it again making the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro with an impressive 6 interceptions for a grand total of 121 yards of it being returned. He also made the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro in 2010 and 2011 with 2011 being his last great year with the Jets, racking up 4 interceptions with 1 touchdown for a grand total of 184 yards (yes he ran one back-end zone to end zone). His next year would be cut short due to injury but he did manage to get an interception and recovered a fumble in his short time.
One Year Bucs Love
Revis spent one year with the Bucs recovering from his injury (which he did) and he was able to get back to his true form racking up an impressive 2 interceptions, 11 deflected passes, and 2 forced fumbles while recovering one and adding a sack as well.
He also managed to make the Pro Bowl and yes, I know the stats are not excellent but for a man to come back from a torn ACL put up these stats and still make the Pro Bowl? There is a reason why Revis is the GOAT. After the 2013 season, Revis looking for a new home, found it in the unlikeliest of places.
The Super Bowl Ring Year
While this tarnished his track record with a lot of Jets fans, Revis went to the rival New England Patriots. In his one year with the Patriots, Revis achieved things he never thought possible, a Super Bowl Ring. Revis snagged 2 interceptions, deflected 16 passes, forced and recovered one fumble and, to top it off, won a Super Bowl. All of this while still going to the Pro Bowl and making the First Team All-Pro. While he enjoyed the spotlight, his time with the Pats would be short and burn out quickly. However, he got what the Jets could never give him.
Taking a look at the impressive career numbers for Darrelle Revis. pic.twitter.com/dDZVrwYaow
— PFF (@PFF) July 18, 2018
The Second Stint
Revis returned home after his trip to other and hateful lands. He landed back with the Jets where he was both welcome and hated because of his year prior. But that did not stop Revis from being who he is. His first year back he made his last Pro Bowl appearance with an impressive 5 interceptions, 9 deflected passes, 4 recovered fumbles and 30 tackles for a 30-year-old corner which nowadays seems impossible. But his decline in greatness was showing and in 2016 he really showed: only one interception and five deflected passes. During a cutting spree, Revis became one of the unfortunate victims and was lost most of the 2017 season not being signed by another team.
The Last of the Chiefs
Midway through the 2017 season, the Kansas City Chiefs picked up Revis and Revis was able to make it back to the playoffs before being knocked out by the Tennessee Titans, who were later knocked out. The Chiefs cut Revis soon after, and then he was no longer in the NFL.
There will never be another island like it. 🌴
🐐 #RevisIsland 🐐 https://t.co/fAcHYtiUDY
— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 18, 2018
The Road to Canton and a Heartfelt Goodbye.
The clock has officially begun for Revis for his trip to Canton. It will likely take at least five years, but it will be one that will be well worth the wait. For Jets fans everywhere, watching this man be THE TOP lock-down corner in the game was truly an honor. Revis shadowed the best and took them out the game. He played at such an intense level that no QB wanted to throw his way and for those who did, they suffered at a lengthy price.
Darrelle Revis, Mr. Revis, on behalf of myself and the FPC Jets and the Jets Nation we would like to say what an honor and privilege it has been to watch you play and watch you become of the Greatest Of All Time, GOAT. There will be others that will copy you and be like you, but there will never be another you. And as you leave the game of football we would like to give you all the luck and support with whatever endeavor you choose. Enjoy retirement and we WILL be thrilled to see you enshrined in Canton.
– Alessandro Senatore is a staff writer for Full Press Coverage Jets and covers the New York Jets. Like and follow on Follow @AMS1928 Follow @FPC_Jets
