All-Time Jets QBs Ranked: Namath #1, Pennington #2

Ray Lucas

#15 · New York Jets
Retired 6 Years In The NFL
Ray's
HAIR
10.7
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Ray Lucas or the Jets?

Ray Lucas Legacy

HEYTC AI
Ray Lucas, the brash Jersey kid from Harrison who stayed home at Rutgers to sling 43 touchdown passes and etch his name in Scarlet Knights lore, embodies the ultimate underdog grind. Undrafted in '96, he started as a Patriots receiver before Bill Parcells barked him onto a plane to the Jets, where he morphed into starter, going 6-2 in '99 after Vinny Testaverde's injury and salvaging an 8-8 season. His cannon arm and locker-room charisma lit up New York and charmed Miami, but Lucas's real legacy? Battling back from a painkiller abyss to become Emmy-winning analyst and Rutgers voice—proof grit outlasts the spotlight.

Ray Lucas Rating Breakdown

Season
Average
Fantasy
Average
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
4 years with the Jets

Ray Lucas Career Stats via Wikipedia

3,029 Pass Yards
18 Touchdowns
17 INTs
0.0% Comp %
10.7 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Ray Lucas

How does Brady Cook compare to Ray Lucas?

Brady Cook's got the Jets starter gig now, but Ray Lucas carved out tougher moments—like that 1999 stretch with 1,678 yards and 14 TDs amid the Keyshawn Johnson circus, a 85.1 rating that outshines Cook's early wobbles. Lucas was scrappy Rutgers-to-NFL underdog; Cook's still proving he can hang in the pocket without the blindside scramble.

Is Ray Lucas in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nope, Ray Lucas isn't in the Pro Football Hall of Fame—no Canton bust for the Jets' late-90s sparkplug who slung 3,029 yards and 18 TDs over seven seasons. He's honored in Rutgers' Hall for those college gunslinger days (43 passing TDs), but NFL immortality? That's Namath territory, not backup-turned-starter grit.

What is Ray Lucas doing now in 2026?

In 2026, Ray Lucas is still calling plays from the booth as Rutgers Radio Network voice since 2009, plus SNY studio analyst duties—he snagged a New York Emmy in 2010 for that sharp breakdown work. The ex-Jets QB's also chipped in on BTN college football, blending his Scarlet Knights roots with broadcast savvy like a wise old lineman schooling rookies.

How would Ray Lucas perform in today's NFL?

Ray Lucas would feast in today's pass-happy NFL—his quick release, Rutgers-honed mobility (15 college rushing TDs), and 58% completion on 3,029 yards scream Mahomes-lite under no-roughing rules and RPOs. That 74.3 rating? Modern protections turn his scrambles into chunk plays, though his 17 INTs might test Mahan-era refs.

How does Ray Lucas compare to Joe Namath?

Ray Lucas was Jets grit personified with a 74.3 career rating on 3,029 yards, but Joe Namath's the Broadway king at 40.81? Wait, that's era math—Namath's Super Bowl III legend towers over Lucas's spot-start flashes like '99's 1,678-yard cameo. Both green No. 1s, yet Broadway Joe's guarantees echo louder than Ray's Rutgers-to-Miami hustle.