NFL alum Marty Lyons has been associated with the Jets organization ever since he was a first-round draft choice for them in 1979.
The Maryland native made news last week when it was announced that he was ending his 22-year run as the Jets’ radio analyst on games. However, he is not separating himself from the team. He will continue his 45-year relationship as a new official Jets ambassador. He will be engaged with team business partners, sponsors and fans while also making media appearances on behalf of the Jets.
Lyons, who was a standout at the University of Alabama under Coach Bear Bryant, played on the defensive line as a member of the Jets’ well-known Sack Exchange until his retirement as a player in 1991. He long has been involved with New York’s charitable activities through his eponymous Marty Lyons Foundation which he founded in 1982. The charity grants wishes to children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses. He was the 1982 NFL Man of the Year for his play on the field and work in the community. He also is in the Jets prestigious Ring of Honor.
“I definitely am going to miss the radio booth, but I am excited about this new opportunity,” the 67-year old Lyons told Newsday last week. “I am grateful to the organization for this long-term relationship. The Jets really don’t owe me anything. Instead, I owe the organization for giving me an opportunity to take on a new role and I am looking forward to it. I am very thankful to owner Woody Johnson for keeping me part of the family.”
Lyons, who suffered a stroke in 2017, missed four games that preseason. Those are the only games he did not work in 22 seasons. His radio play by play partner all those years has been Bob Wischusen.
“Marty may not be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Wischusen says, “but some players mean more to the team and more to their community than the outside world will ever understand. If there were a Hall of Fame that combined athletic achievement with charity, benevolence, love, being a great father and friend, Marty Lyons would be a first ballot inductee.”
The Jets have announced that their former tight end Anthony Becht, who recently worked preseason TV games for them, has been chosen to try to fill Lyons’ shoes on the radio side starting this season. Becht was the Jets’ first round draft choice in 2000 and played five seasons with them.
We wish Marty Lyons much success in his new role and thank him for representing NFL alumni so well over all these years. Go Jets!
