Fireman Ed

{{infobox person

|name = Ed Anzalone

|image = Fireman Ed 1-21-10.JPG

|alt =

|caption = Ed at a Jets Championship Rally of the 2009 playoffs January 21, 2010 in Times Square.

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|9|19}}

|birth_place = New York City, U.S.

|death_place =

|nationality =

|other_names =

|known_for = Leading chants at New York Jets games

}}

Edwin M. Anzalone (born September 19, 1959),{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=4774588|title=Pilgrimage: A farewell to Giants|first=Kristian|last=Dyer|publisher=ESPN|date=December 27, 2009|access-date=December 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231124503/http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=4774588|archive-date=31 December 2009|url-status=dead}} better known as Fireman Ed, is a well-known fan of the New York Jets.{{Cite web|last=Pressman|first=Stacey|title=To date, or not to date|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1541856&type=page2Story|work=ESPN.com|date=April 21, 2003|access-date=September 19, 2007}}{{cite book|last=Lange|first=Randy|title=Stadium Stories: New York Jets|publisher=Globe Pequot Press|year=2005|isbn=0-7627-3783-2}} One of the most well-known National Football League fans, he has risen to prominence by appearing on many local radio shows.{{cite news|last=Greenberg|first=Jay|title=Playoffs Startin' To Add Up|url=https://nypost.com/2006/10/23/playoffs-startin-to-add-up/|date=October 23, 2006|work=New York Post|access-date=September 2, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Berger|first=Ken|title=Martin, secondary spark the Jets|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1905742|work=ESPN.com|date=October 21, 2004|access-date=September 19, 2007}}{{cite news|last=Soshnick|first=Scott|title=U.S. Pro Sports Fans Don't Know What a Fan Is|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000039&sid=a5f7hE82YrEk&refer=columnist_soshnick|publisher=Bloomberg|date=March 23, 2006|access-date=September 19, 2007}} He is known for leading the crowd in the team chant, "J-E-T-S, Jets!, Jets!, Jets!",{{cite news|last=Murphy|first=Brian|title=Here's to you, New York|url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/murphy/010917.html|work=ESPN.com|access-date=September 19, 2007}} 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.{{cite web|title=Where did the JETS chant come from?|url=http://www.jetkingdom.com/information/faq/jets_chant|access-date=September 25, 2007}}{{cite news|last=Bromberg|first=Greg|title=Most Fierce NFL Mascot Competition: Fireman Ed vs. T.D.|url=http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/10851162|work=CBS Sports|access-date=June 28, 2008}}

An actual New York City firefighter, Fireman Ed was injured on the job in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.firemaned.net/about.html|title=About Us|publisher=Firemaned.net|access-date=August 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124010327/http://www.firemaned.net/about.html|archive-date=January 24, 2012|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web|last=Hanzus|first=Dan|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/fireman-ed-quits-as-new-york-jets-unofficial-mascot-0ap1000000100909|work=National Football League|date=November 26, 2012|title=Fireman Ed quits as New York Jets' unofficial mascot|access-date=December 11, 2012}} Since the first game of the 2015 NFL season, Fireman Ed has returned to lead cheers for the Jets.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54089/fireman-ed-back-for-new-york-jets-home-opener|title=Fireman Ed returns for Jets' opener, to the delight of Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis|last=Darcy|first=Kieran|work=ESPN.com|date=September 14, 2015|access-date=September 14, 2015}}

Fandom

Anzalone wears Bruce Harper's jersey to games.{{cite news|last=Baumbach|first=Jim|title=Where are they now: Jets returner Bruce Harper|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/where-are-they-now-jets-returner-bruce-harper-1.877749|newspaper=Newsday|date=December 15, 2007|access-date=December 2, 2009}}{{cite news|last=Waszak|first=Dennis|title=Jets give Fireman Ed game ball from win over Pats|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-jets-firemaned&prov=ap&type=lgns|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=September 25, 2009|access-date=September 27, 2009}} The exception was the 2012 NFL season, during which he wore Mark Sanchez's jersey in support of the quarterback. Anzalone began leading the J-E-T-S chant from Section 134 of the Meadowlands in 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.{{cite news|title=Die-hard New York Jets supporter Bruce 'The Base' Gregor is the man the beneath J-E-T-S chant|first=Ian|last=Powers|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2010/01/24/2010-01-24_meet_the_man_beneath_the_jets_chant.html|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=January 24, 2010|access-date=January 24, 2010}} In 1999, Fireman Ed was included in an exhibit at the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Hall of Fans.{{cite news|last=Florence|first=Mal|title=You Have to Be Fan of Absurdity to Make This Hall|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-22-sp-677-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 22, 1999|access-date=January 1, 2009}}

Ed's Harlem unit was deployed to assist in the survival and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center after the September 11 attacks. Anzalone lost many colleagues in the tragedy and attended numerous funerals for fallen firefighters. On October 1, 2001, he represented the FDNY during the coin toss at a New York Jets game against the Arizona Cardinals, wearing his uniform and a tribute t-shirt honoring those lost in the attacks.{{Cite web |last=Suggs |first=David |title=Is Fireman Ed a real fireman? Meet Edwin Anzalone, FDNY firefighter and legendary Jets superfan |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nfl/news/fireman-ed-real-fireman-edwin-anzalone-fdny-firefighter-jets-superfan/99936dfd791303ca24809f82 |website=Sporting News |date=2024-10-31 |access-date=2025-01-29}}

On September 25, 2009, Fireman Ed was given a game ball from the Jets Week 2 victory over the New England Patriots.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Jets give Fireman Ed game ball|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4503739|work=ESPN.com|date=September 25, 2009|access-date=September 25, 2009}} On December 30, 2009, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson claimed he would imitate Fireman Ed if he scored a touchdown in his next game against the Jets, on January 3, 2010.{{cite news|title=Ochocinco promises new routine|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4782365|work=ESPN|date=December 31, 2009|access-date=January 3, 2010}} 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. Anzalone appreciated the offer but declined it, 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 such offer was made.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/OGOchoCinco|title=Ocho Cinco (@OGOchoCinco) op Twitter|publisher=Twitter.com|access-date=August 14, 2012}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2012-11-28 |title=Dolphins superfan Big Papa Pump calls Fireman Ed 'a disgrace' |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/dolphins-superfan-big-papa-pump-calls-fireman-ed-a-disgrace/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}{{cite news |last= McManus |first=Jane |date=November 23, 2012 |title=Notes: Where art Ed? |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/18107/notes-where-art-ed |work=ESPN |access-date=November 23, 2012}} He "retired" as the self-proclaimed mascot of the New York Jets, stating he would attend games but not in character. He later explained that confrontations with a small number of Jets' fans had ruined the experience for him. The decision led to criticism that he had quit on the team, with some focus placed on Anzalone having been a fan of the Jets' division rival, the Miami Dolphins, before switching his allegiance to the Jets at age 10.{{Cite web |date=2012-11-27 |title=Dolphins superfan bashes Fireman Ed |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/18194/dolphins-super-fan-bashes-fireman-ed |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

On September 13, 2015, Fireman Ed returned in character at the Jets' home opener against the Cleveland Browns,{{Cite web|last=Darcy|first=Kieran|date=2015-09-13|title=Fireman Ed returns for Jets' opener, to the delight of Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54089/fireman-ed-back-for-new-york-jets-home-opener|access-date=2021-02-08|website=ESPN|language=en}} and he has continued this tradition as of the 2024 season.{{cite web |last1=Gaydos |first1=Ryan |title=Jets superfan Fireman Ed takes issue with lack of screen time at stadium: 'They’re phasing us out' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/jets-superfan-fireman-ed-takes-issue-lack-screen-time-stadium-theyre-phasing-us-out?msockid=22397ed1e3fc65c02a426bd0e24c6439 |website=foxnews.com |publisher=FOX News Network, LLC. |access-date=17 May 2025}}

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.{{cite news|title=New York Jets Superfan, Fireman Ed Shows His Angry Side|first=Paula|last=Duffy|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paula-duffy/new-york-jets-superfan-fi_b_685621.html|work=The Huffington Post|date=August 17, 2010|access-date=August 23, 2010}} The Giants fan was later removed from the game. Fireman Ed was charged with simple assault for the incident,{{cite web|title=Fireman Ed Charged with Assault of Giants Fan|first=Andy|last=Benoit|url=http://nfl-facts-and-rumors.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/24764698|publisher=cbssports|date=September 22, 2010|access-date=September 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926110348/http://nfl-facts-and-rumors.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/24764698|archive-date=September 26, 2010|url-status=dead}} but the charges were later dropped.{{cite news|title=Jets fan Fireman Ed cleared of assault as Giants fan Christopher Black drops charges|first=Larry|last=McShane|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/10/28/2010-10-28_jets_fan_fireman_ed_cleared_of_assault_as_giants_fan_christopher_black_drops_cha.html|newspaper=Daily News|location=New York|date=October 28, 2010|access-date=October 30, 2010}}

Personal life

Anzalone has also been a resident of East Rutherford, New Jersey.{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2010/09/jets_fan_fireman_ed_anzalone_c.html|title=Jets fan 'Fireman Ed' Anzalone could face assault charge in wake of incident involving Giants fan|newspaper=The Star-Ledger|last=Orr |first=Conor |date=September 23, 2010|access-date=December 11, 2012|quote=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.}}