Actor Dylan O’Brien reveals his favorite New York Jets player that you’ve probably never heard of
In an appearance on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’ at the weekend, the actor discussed his love for NFL franchise the New York Jets.
Famous Jets fan Dylan O’Brien brought a snort of laughter from talk-show host Rich Eisen when he revealed his favorite ever player for the NFL franchise.
“It’s embarrassing”
In an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show on Sunday, the New York-born actor noticeably hesitated when asked to name his all-time Jets idol.
“I was a big Jerricho Cotchery fan... I knew you were going to crack up,” O’Brien told Eisen. “When I was a teenager, I used to be like, ‘Cotchery!’
“That’s what we Jets fans sound like, you know? You’re shouting for some guy no-one’s ever heard of and I always had the most hope for. It’s embarrassing.”
Who is Jerricho Cotchery?
A wide receiver picked by New York in the fourth round of the 2004 draft, Cotchery spent seven seasons with the Jets, before closing out his NFL career with spells at the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers.
In 175 Jets appearances, the NC State graduate registered 524 receptions for 6,623 yards and 34 touchdowns.
While Cotchery is hardly a player who dominates rankings of the Jets’ best ever performers - let alone lists of the greatest in NFL history - it does appear that O’Brien is far from the only supporter of the franchise who holds the Alabama native in high esteem.
“A paragon of consistency”
Writing on the Jets X Factor website, the NFL expert Connor Long leaves Cotchery out of his picks for the Gang Green’s top five WRs of all time, but reserves an “honorable mention” for a player he describes as “one of the most reliable receivers in Jets history”.
“Cotchery never garnered massive attention,” Long says. “He flew under the radar and always showed up on game day. Cotchery led the Jets in receiving yards each year from 2007 to 2009.”
Long adds that the receiver “was a fan favorite due to his toughness and consistency”, concluding: “Every team needs players like Cotchery.”
The Jet Press’s Justin Fried agrees that Cotchery was “a paragon of consistency and reliability” during his time with the team, concluding: “To a certain segment of fans, he will always be the standard bearer.”
“They’re my guys”
During his interview with Eisen, O’Brien also discussed his reasons for choosing to support the Jets, rather than fellow New York franchise the Giants. “It comes from my dad,” the Teen Wolf star said, noting that he also follows the New York Mets in baseball, rather than the Yankees.
“My dad’s side of the family is Long Island - you know, Mets-Jets - so I’ve always been Mets-Jets. And I’ve genuinely had an affection towards them since I was a kid. They’re my guys.”
Looking ahead to the 2025 NFL season, in which the Jets will bid to end a long playoff drought, O’Brien suggested that the team’s new starting quarterback, Justin Fields, could be the man to spearhead a successful season.
“He’s so talented, so let’s see,” the actor said.
In their season opener on Sunday, the Jets were beaten 34-32 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Fields throwing for 218 yards and one touchdown. The Steelers were led to victory by former Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who shone with four TD passes and 244 throwing yards.
When did the Jets last make the playoffs?
The Jets have not managed a winning regular-season record since 2015, and have not reached the playoffs since 2010. The franchise’s only Super Bowl win came back in 1968.
Related stories
Supertramp founder Rick Davies dies at 81
The reason why ‘Star Trek’ Day is held on Sep. 8
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment