Three Reasons:
1 580 receptions ranks him 2nd all time for the jets
2- 7,365 yards from scrimmage place him 5th all-time for the Jets
3- He was a Long Island Kid that went to college in Long Island and stayed with the Jets his entire career.
4- He was a short white kid that wasn't very athletic. He sort of represented the average jets fan.
I have to admit that there are about 20 former jets that are probably pissed that Chrebet got a day like today.