D’Brickashaw Ferguson epitomized durability during his 10-year career with the Jets.
After the Jets drafted Ferguson fourth overall out of Virginia in 2006, he proved to be one of the best offensive linemen in franchise history and started every game he played in for New York. Not only did he start all 160 possible games, but he also played in every offensive snap for the Jets.
Except for one.
Ferguson finished with an absurd 99.991 percent snap share over his career and the one snap he missed wasn’t because of injury. As Good Morning Football’s Kyle Brandt explained, the Jets decided to pull Ferguson in the final game of the 2008 season to run a lateral play in a last-ditch effort to beat the Dolphins.
Football fans, be honest.
Did you know this story about D’Brickashaw Ferguson? This is wild. pic.twitter.com/weFvXDtUvg
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) June 8, 2020
Down by a touchdown with seven seconds to play on their own four-yard line, the Jets attempted to pull off an incredible feat and go 96 yards for a game-tying score. Wide receiver Brad Smith took a direct snap, passed the ball to Leon Washington, who lateraled it to Laverneous Coles. Three laterals later, the Dolphins recovered the ball and the game ended in a Jets loss. Led by Brett Favre, the Jets’ playoff hopes that season disintegrated and they finished third in the division.
If Ferguson had played that snap, he likely would have beaten Joe Thomas’ snap streak of 10,363 in a row. Ferguson finished his career with a total of 10,707 snaps.
The Jets haven’t seen a quality tackle since Ferguson retired after the 2015 season, but they’re hoping they found a solid one in rookie Mekhi Becton. Becton was the first offensive lineman to be drafted by the Jets in the first round since Ferguson and Nick Mangold went Nos. 4 and 29.