Roy Keane was on a star-studded guest list for the thrilling first Monday Night Football installment of the new NFL season, as the Jets took on the Bills in a New York state head-to-head.
Boasting the new arrival of veteran quarter-back Aaron Rodgers, the Jets started the season in high spirits - though they faced an almighty task against the Buffalo Bills, one of the strong favourites to go all the way to Super Bowl LVIII in Nevada at the end of the postseason.
The stars were out at MetLife Stadium in New York for Monday night's game, including former Manchester United star Keane - who managed to grab a snap and unexpected jersey swap with Jets icon Nick Mangold.
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Roy Keane an unexpected guest at New York Jets NFL opener
The New York Jets' Instagram feed revealed a familiar face in the crowd for their NFL opener against the Buffalo Bills, with a surprise crossover of Roy Keane and Nick Mangold in attendance.
Keane and Mangold swapped jerseys, with the Corkman signing Manchester United's third kit for the former Jets center, and Keane receiving a signed Mangold Jets kit.
Roy Keane and Nick Mangold at Monday night's game between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills (Photo: New York Jets on Instagram - @NYJets)
Though Mangold did not win any divison championships with the Jets (their wait for a second Super Bowl extends to 55 years this season), he was a seven-time Pro Bowler during his time in New York, and is held in high regard as a modern legend for the team.
The former Jets star forms a club of one - that is, the club of those who have successfully swapped jerseys with Roy Keane. Ex-Ireland captain Keane revealed on The Overlap that the only player he had ever asked for a jersey swap was Matthias Sammer - a request the German sweeper denied.
Keane is evidently a big NFL fan, evidenced not only by his encounter with Nick Mangold, but his previous attendance at games. He was caught on camera arguing with a fan over a selfie request at last year's London games, while he and Martin O'Neill attended Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco while they were in charge of the Republic of Ireland national team in 2016.
Ahead of that 2016 Super Bowl, Keane spoke of his love for the NFL.
Corkman Keane was not the only celebrity in the house for Monday's thrilling encounter between the Jets and the Bills. Pop star Justin Timberlake was seen on the sidelines with Wu-Tang Clan rapper Method Man, while others such as rapper Sexxy Red, The Office actor Brian Baumgartner, and Hamilton and In the Heights musical star Anthony Ramos were also seen across the New York Jets' social media.
.@jtimberlake 🤝 @methodman pic.twitter.com/7zNkjZO442
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 12, 2023
SKEEYEE pic.twitter.com/zZLH2Ay3V0
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 11, 2023
Those in attendance at MetLife Stadium were treated to a nerve-wracking opening New York derby, as the Jets pulled off a shock victory against the odds against one of this year's leading NFL contenders.
The Jets lost statement signing Aaron Rodgers to an Achilles injury on just his fourth snap as a quarter-back for the side early on. It now looks likely that four-time NFL MVP Rodgers will be missing for the entire season, and the Jets would be forced to battle on without their big-name summer arrival.
Absolute madness in the NFL last night.
39-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers - playing his first game with the NY Jets, one of the NFL's most snakebitten teams - tears his achilles ON THE FOURTH PLAY OF THE GAMEpic.twitter.com/fnufOvErsS— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) September 12, 2023
Battle on they did and, after the sides finished level at 16 points apiece, a sensational 65-yard punt return from Xavier Gipson - a relatively late addition to the Jets' 2023 roster - saw him score the winning touchdown on his first NFL appearance.
THE ROOKIE XAVIER GIPSON WINS IT! #BUFvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/lC26hn74bm
— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2023
It was certainly a night to remember for 22-year-old Xavier Gipson, and a memorable occasion for Roy Keane and the other big names in the MetLife Stadium crowd on Monday night.
Featured image: New York Jets
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