Wayne Chrebet

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Wayne Chrebet
Date of birth August 14, 1973
Place of birth Flag of United States Garfield, New Jersey
Position(s) Wide Receiver
College Hofstra
Stats
Statistics
Team(s)
1995–2005 New York Jets

Wayne Chrebet (born August 14, 1973, Garfield, New Jersey) was an American Football player who played 11 seasons as a wide receiver for the New York Jets of the NFL from 1995 to 2005. He is also one of the most popular Jets players in the history of the team.

Contents

[edit] College career

Chrebet played for Hofstra University, which is also the site of the Jets’ year-round training facility. At Hofstra, Chrebet was a four-year letterwinner who twice led the Flying Dutchmen (now known as The Pride), in receiving. In addition he set the single season and career touchdown marks with 16 (1994), and 31, respectively. Also in 1994, Chrebet became Hofstra's first 1,000-yard receiver. Along the way he set a Hofstra school record with 245 receiving yards in a game against Delaware, and tying Jerry Rice for the NCAA I-AA mark with five touchdowns.

For his accomplishments at Hofstra, Chrebet was part of the inaugural class to be inducted into the Hofstra University Athletic Hall of Fame.

[edit] NFL

Following his career at Hofstra, Chrebet went undrafted in the NFL Draft. He was a walk-on free agent ranked #11 out of 11 potential wide receivers on the New York Jets depth chart in 1995 and was thus initially given No. 3 as a jersey number. Only after shocking the media and staff by working his way through the depth chart did he earn the No. 80 jersey which he is famous for. Chrebet helped the Jets win the AFC East division in 1998 and 2002.

During his playing career Chrebet suffered nine concussions but continued to play professional football. Chrebet's career came to an end on November 6, 2005 in a game against the San Diego Chargers. Chrebet suffered a career ending concussion on a third down catch which earned the Jets a first down, a play symbolic of the way Chrebet played throughout his career. He remained down on the field for several minutes, with a glazed look in his eyes.

Chrebet officially announced his retirement from the NFL on June 2, 2006. At the ceremony, an emotional Chrebet dedicated his career to his fans. His career included 580 receptions, for 7,365 yards and 41 touchdowns.[1] His 580 receptions ranks #2 all time in Jets franchise history for receptions only behind Hall of Famer Don Maynard.

[edit] Awards

  • 1995: New York Newsday's "Jet of the Year," as voted on by the paper's readers.
  • 1997: New York Jets "Unsung Hero Award"
  • 2000: DIRECTV "NFL Play of the Week" (Week 2 vs. New England for a game winning TD catch in the fourth quarter)
  • 2000: DIRECTV "NFL Play of the Week" (Week 4 vs. Tampa Bay for an 18 yard TD catch with :52 seconds left in the game on a HB option from RB Curtis Martin
  • 2001: New York Jets Alumni Association's "Jets Player of the Year"

[edit] Trivia

  • In 1998, He teamed with WR Keyshawn Johnson to lead the league in receptions as the tandem finished with 158 receptions, 2,214 receiving yards, 14.0 yards per catch and 18 touchdowns.
  • In 1999, he was inactive for games one through five after suffering a broken bone in his foot during the team's exhibition finale vs. MIN that required the insertion of a pin to aid in the healing.
  • His #80 jersey ranks as one of the most popular in the history of the storied New York Jet franchise. Even after his retirement it is extremely common to see his jersey worn by fans at the draft in New York City, in training camp at Hofstra, and at games in the Meadowlands.

He opened a restaurant right down the street from Hofstra called Chrebet's. The opening party was held on March 9, 2007.

[edit] External links


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