Ed Anzalone who is a retired fireman and known to many Jets fans as “Fireman Ed,” is a diehard New York Jets fan. For years, the unofficial mascot has led the Gang Green chants of “J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets! Jets!” during home games, and now he has hung up his helmet. Days after the New York Jets were dismantled by the New England Patriots on Thanksgiving night led Ed to delete his Twitter account and left the stadium for good at halftime of the game.
Fireman Ed, who was known for wearing Bruce Harper’s jersey, switched to Mark Sanchez for the 2012 season. Ed cited increasing frequent confrontations with other fans. Ed explained in a statement.
“This is an indication of how society has lost and is continuing to lose respect for one another. The stadium has become divided because of the quarterback controversy as well. The fact that I chose to wear a Mark Sanchez jersey this year and that fans think I am on the payroll — which is an outright lie — have made these confrontations more frequent. Whether it’s in the stands, the bathroom or the parking lot, these confrontations are happening on a consistent basis.”
Ed has made it clear that he will not stop rooting for the Jets. “I will always love the Jets because they are in my heart, and I will attend games as usual, just not as Fireman Ed,” wrote Anzalone in an open letter.
Kris Jenkins, former Jets nose tackle weighed in on Twitter regarding the backlash of events.
“Fireman Ed deleted his account? Wow thought he was a diehard fan? Guess he went back to the Dolphins.”
The dig refers to Ed’s childhood team before becoming a Jets fan in 1975.
Ed started the chant with his brother Frank in 1986. In 1999, Ed was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Hall of Fans.
Ed Anzalone is an actual NYFD and was injured on the job in 2007 before retiring.
