The Top 10 Trick Plays in Jets History

Let's have some fun and count down some of the best trick plays in franchise history. Here's our list of the top 10.

10 - The Slightly Less-Than-Full House

Throughout the Rex Ryan era, there was an obsession with employing players in unusual roles. Sione Po'uha at middle linebacker? Joe McKnight at edge rusher? Saalim Hakim at free safety? Tim Tebow at tight end? We saw them all.

One such experiment saw Sheldon Richardson employed as a blocking back and occasional short yardage runner at the full back position. He scored two touchdowns including this one where the Jets opted for a more basic fullback dive after the previous play - which saw Richardson, Kenrick Ellis and Damon Harrison all lined up in a "Full House" backfield - almost ended with Richardson losing a fumble.

9 - The Non-Tackle Eligible

The most famous tackle eligible play in franchise history was, of course, Jumbo Elliott's touchdown during the Monday Night Miracle win over Miami. Almost a decade earlier, the Jets got the winning touchdown over New England on a similar play.

Trevor Matich was the recipient this time - his only NFL touchdown - but the Jets had smartly changed his number from 64 to 46 in the lead-up to this game so as to not alert the Patriots to the possibility by having to declare him eligible.

8 - Gentle Ben

In the sixties kids' TV show about a boy and his bear, the football team met with the legendary Bart Starr who regaled the football team with the tale of how the ran for the winning touchdown in the Ice Bowl because everyone was expecting Paul Hornung to get the ball.

The boys misinterpret this as meaning that you should give the ball to your worst player in a clutch situation, which they do, and some kid called Scooter ends up scoring the winning touchdown. This was the Jets' version of that as a deft fake allowed an immobile Joe Namath, the last person you'd expect to run the ball, to stagger into the end zone and send the game against the Giants into overtime.

7 - Holder and Wiser

A basic fake field goal here, as Pat Ryan scores an 8-yard touchdown. He had the option to pitch it to 36-year old kicker Pat Leahy but probably made the right decision to keep it himself.

6 - Right on Q

This was only a four-yard play, but a perfectly-executed red zone option for a team that struggled to convert near the goal line.

Bryce Petty completes it to Brandon Marshall in the flat and Marshall pitches it to Bilal Powell heading for the pylon. However, the real genius behind this play was how it was designed for Quincy Enunwa to make a reach block on the outside cornerback. He executes perfectly, blocking off three other defensive players from making the tackle in the process.

5 - The Long Con

When the Jets traded for Tebow, they were so concerned that he'd undermine Mark Sanchez's development that they hardly ever used him in the red zone and tried to formulate a narrative to suggest that he was a valuable punt protector.

This was the only time the Jets actually made use of his skill-set, albeit on a simple dump-off pass that any punt protector in the league could probably have completed. Having linebacker Nick Bellore on the receiving end was a nice wrinkle though.

4 - A Drop in the Bucket

Curtis Martin to Wayne Chrebet on the halfback option to beat the Bucs is probably one of the most famous gadget plays in Jets history. This was the first meeting between the Jets and their recently traded receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who was held to just one catch for one yard.

However, despite its importance, that was an ugly throw by Martin. This, on the other hand, while still far from a perfect spiral, was a beauty, dropped in over two defenders.

3 - The Postseason Gamble

The Jets were in desperate need of a spark. Having snuck into the playoffs despite losing their last five games, they found themselves down a touchdown to the Chiefs and Joe Walton opted to gamble and go for it on 4th-and-6.

A creative play saw Ryan fake a pitch to the running back and then take off up the middle. The big play set up the first of two first half Freeman McNeil touchdowns and the Jets went on to win by 20. They should've beaten the Browns the following week, too.

2 - The Double-Pitch

Something about how this play pops makes you wonder why more teams don't run this play. Fullback Richie Anderson takes the hand-off going up the middle, but then pitches for Martin who isn't touched until he's 30 yards downfield.

At the time, the Jets were trailing big but this gave them a much needed spark. Even so, they still trailed 30-7 before the incredible fourth quarter comeback that became known as the aforementioned Monday Night Miracle.

1 - The Slick-and-Ladder

The Monday Night Miracle wasn't the only amazing comeback the Jets had against Miami. In 1986, they beat the Dolphins 51-45 in overtime, thanks to four Wesley Walker touchdowns, including the game winner and a last-second score to send the game to overtime.

The Jets displayed some great creativity on the drive to set up that game-saving touchdown. This was a slick hook-and-ladder play that sees Mickey Shuler with the dish to Johnny Hector before he's even landed with the ball. The Jets then ran the same play to the other side but this time Shuler faked the pitch and kept it so he was able to get out of bounds.

What did we miss? Let us know if you can remember any other great trick plays in the comments section.