Fireman Ed Explained

Ed Anzalone
Birth Date:19 September 1959
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Known For:Being a former Miami Dolphins fan and switching to the New York Jets
Occupation:New York City Firefighter

Edwin M. Anzalone (born September 19, 1959),[1] better known as Fireman Ed, is a well known fan of the New York Jets.[2] [3] One of the most well-known National Football League fans, he has risen to prominence by appearing on many local radio shows.[4] [5] [6] He is known for leading the crowd in the team chant, "J-E-T-S, Jets!, Jets!, Jets!",[7] which originally was led by two retired NYPD Jet fans – alternating from one end zone to the other end zone, in the upper deck only.[8] [9] An actual New York City firefighter, Fireman Ed was injured on the job in 2007.[10] During the butt fumble game, a rout of the Jets by the New England Patriots on Thanksgiving night 2012, Anzalone left the game before halftime, stating that he would no longer lead cheers at Jet games as Fireman Ed.[11] At the first game of the 2015 NFL season, Fireman Ed returned to lead cheers for the Jets.[12]

Fandom

Anzalone wears Bruce Harper's jersey to games,[13] [14] however he switched to Mark Sanchez's jersey for the 2012 NFL season in support of the quarterback, and has been leading the J-E-T-S chant from Section 134 of the Meadowlands since 1986. He used to be hoisted up on the shoulders of his brother Frank, then later onto those of Bruce Gregor after Frank developed knee problems.[15] In 1999, Fireman Ed was included in an exhibit at the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Hall of Fans.[16]

On September 25, 2009, Fireman Ed was given a game ball from the Jets Week 2 victory over the New England Patriots.[17] On December 30, 2009, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson claimed he would imitate Fireman Ed if he scores a touchdown in his next game against the Jets, on January 3, 2010.[18] The day after the Bengals' loss in Week 17, Johnson got in contact with Fireman Ed through Twitter and provided him with a VIP package for the Jets first round playoff game at Cincinnati, as a way to make up for the "trash-talking" that occurred before the game. Though he was appreciative of the offer he declined, on the moral ground that he did not think it was right to be flown out to the game by the opposing team. He did however say that if the Jets made him an offer he would take them up on it, though no offer was made.[19]

On November 22, 2012, during a Thanksgiving night Jets blowout 49–19 loss to the New England Patriots, Ed left the game at halftime and deleted his Twitter account.[20] He "retired" as the self-proclaimed mascot of the New York Jets, stating he will attend games but not in character.

On September 13, 2015, Fireman Ed returned in character at the Jets' home opener against the Cleveland Browns.[21]

Controversy

On August 16, 2010, during a Monday Night Football Giants vs. Jets pre-season game, Fireman Ed's inaugural Jets chant in the New Meadowlands Stadium was interrupted by a Giants fan who raised his Giants hat while Fireman Ed's fellow Jets fans stood by. Fireman Ed repeatedly shoved the fan before the fan was escorted away from Ed's chanting post.[22] The Giants fan was later removed from the game. Fireman Ed was charged with simple assault for the incident,[23] but the charges were later dropped.[24]

Personal life

Anzalone has also been a resident of East Rutherford, New Jersey.[25]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pilgrimage: A farewell to Giants. Kristian. Dyer. ESPN. December 27, 2009. December 28, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091231124503/http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=4774588. 31 December 2009. dead.
  2. Web site: Pressman. Stacey. To date, or not to date. ESPN.com. April 21, 2003. September 19, 2007.
  3. Book: Lange, Randy. Stadium Stories: New York Jets. Globe Pequot Press. 2005. 0-7627-3783-2.
  4. News: Greenberg. Jay. Playoffs Startin' To Add Up. October 23, 2006. New York Post. September 2, 2023.
  5. News: Berger. Ken. Martin, secondary spark the Jets. ESPN.com. October 21, 2004. September 19, 2007.
  6. News: Soshnick. Scott. U.S. Pro Sports Fans Don't Know What a Fan Is. Bloomberg. March 23, 2006. September 19, 2007.
  7. News: Murphy. Brian. Here's to you, New York. ESPN.com. September 19, 2007.
  8. Web site: Where did the JETS chant come from?. September 25, 2007.
  9. News: Bromberg. Greg. Most Fierce NFL Mascot Competition: Fireman Ed vs. T.D.. CBS Sports. June 28, 2008.
  10. Web site: About Us. Firemaned.net. August 14, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120124010327/http://www.firemaned.net/about.html. January 24, 2012. dead.
  11. Web site: Hanzus. Dan. Fireman Ed quits as New York Jets' unofficial mascot. National Football League. November 26, 2012. December 11, 2012.
  12. Web site: Fireman Ed returns for Jets' opener, to the delight of Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis. Darcy. Kieran. ESPN.com. September 14, 2015. September 14, 2015.
  13. News: Baumbach. Jim. Where are they now: Jets returner Bruce Harper. Newsday. December 15, 2007. December 2, 2009.
  14. News: Waszak. Dennis. Jets give Fireman Ed game ball from win over Pats. Yahoo! Sports. September 25, 2009. September 27, 2009.
  15. News: Die-hard New York Jets supporter Bruce 'The Base' Gregor is the man the beneath J-E-T-S chant. Ian. Powers. New York Daily News. January 24, 2010. January 24, 2010.
  16. News: Florence. Mal. You Have to Be Fan of Absurdity to Make This Hall. Los Angeles Times. January 22, 1999. January 1, 2009.
  17. News: Associated Press. Jets give Fireman Ed game ball. ESPN.com. September 25, 2009. September 25, 2009.
  18. News: Ochocinco promises new routine. ESPN. December 31, 2009. January 3, 2010.
  19. Web site: Ocho Cinco (@OGOchoCinco) op Twitter. Twitter.com. August 14, 2012.
  20. News: McManus . Jane . November 23, 2012 . Notes: Where art Ed? . ESPN . November 23, 2012.
  21. Web site: Darcy. Kieran. 2015-09-13. Fireman Ed returns for Jets' opener, to the delight of Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis. 2021-02-08. ESPN. en.
  22. News: New York Jets Superfan, Fireman Ed Shows His Angry Side. Paula. Duffy. The Huffington Post. August 17, 2010. August 23, 2010.
  23. Web site: Fireman Ed Charged with Assault of Giants Fan. Andy. Benoit. cbssports. September 22, 2010. September 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100926110348/http://nfl-facts-and-rumors.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/24764698. September 26, 2010. dead.
  24. News: Jets fan Fireman Ed cleared of assault as Giants fan Christopher Black drops charges. Larry. McShane. Daily News. New York. October 28, 2010. October 30, 2010.
  25. News: Jets fan 'Fireman Ed' Anzalone could face assault charge in wake of incident involving Giants fan. The Star-Ledger. Orr . Conor . September 23, 2010. December 11, 2012. Anzalone, a 51-year-old retired New York City firefighter now residing in East Rutherford, serves as an unofficial figurehead in the Jets fan section..

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