New York Jets place kicker Greg Zuerlein, second from left, celebrates with teammates after kicking a game-winning field goal against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
As part of their most recent revamp, the NFL team New York Jets has added a
jet plane back to their emblem, a throwback to their Sack Exchange days in the 1980s.
The revamp, which aims to blend “coolness and nostalgia,” returns the
namesake of the American football team, the jet, to the emblem for the first time since 1997.
The logo was created by Jim Pons, the team’s former video director and bass
guitarist for The Mothers of Invention, a band that included Frank Zappa. It
has been updated and modernized. The original logo, which dates back to the
team’s treasured New York Sack Exchange days, was in use in the 1970s,
1980s, and 1990s.
Chris Pierce, vice president of fan commerce for the New York Jets, stated,
“We’ve modernized it, and I think that’s an upgrade.
“It is undoubtedly a significant architectural landmark in our history and a
pivotal moment for New York,” he stated to Dezeen.
“We seem to be resurrecting an element from this fantastic film on this
incredible platform—there was excitement surrounding the 1970s and 1980s
in New York City—by bringing it to life.
Vice president of fan commerce for the New York Jets, Chris Pierce, said, “I
think it’s an upgrade since we modernized it.”
He told Dezeen, “It’s definitely a big architectural monument in our history
and a big time for New York.”
“By making it real, we appear to be recreating a portion from this amazing
movie on this amazing platform—there was enthusiasm surrounding the 1970s
and 1980s in New York City.
The initial design, which was created by Pons by hand in the late 1970s and
served as the team’s main logo from 1978 until 1997, was refined and made
“stronger and slightly bolder” by the team.
The J’s tail is thicker and higher, and the jet itself is more pointed, but the
spacing between the letters has been changed to be more uniform.
Pierce said, “We examined the logo and wondered if it was appropriate for
applications that would be needed in 2024 but not in 1978.
Since the logo was hand-drawn, there was some inconsistent spacing between
the letters, so we did some modernizations and adjustments to it,” he said.
“The aircraft’s nose and tail have sharper edges. Furthermore, we believe that
the plane’s more rounded nose and tail complement its increased speed.”
Pierce claims that the team’s supporters, especially their outcry over the Jets’
use of the former logo the previous season, were the driving force behind the
decision to go back to it.
He stated, “It became clear that our supporters wanted us to bring back a logo
that they truly connected with.” “And they felt such a strong emotional
connection to it that they just demanded the proper response,” the speaker said.
“Therefore, it was evident to us that this shouts our identity; why don’t we
bring it back?” he continued.
