Jets Mourn the Loss of Frank Ramos

The Jets have lost a significant figure from their past with the recent passing of Frank Ramos, a renowned public relations personality, who died at 87 after a short illness with pneumonia.

Ramos was integral to the franchise from 1963 until 2002. During that time, he worked under seven owners, numerous team presidents, five general managers, and various coaches.

From when I began following the Jets in the late ’80s, I connected Ramos with the era of Joe Namath. He played a crucial part in Super Bowl III back in 1969, the team’s only championship win.

He was alongside Namath when he was drafted in 1965 and witnessed the iconic moment when Miami secured that famous Super Bowl victory.

Namath held Ramos in high regard, referring to him as a “pioneer in this profession.”

“It’s heartbreaking,” Namath expressed. “He was with me from the beginning. A special friend, a special teammate. This is a sad day for the Jets family.”

Current owner Woody Johnson highlighted Ramos’ extensive knowledge of the organization, noting he was his first public relations director when he purchased the team. “Every talk with Frank felt like I was in touch with the true essence of the Jets. He truly held us together,” Johnson remarked.

Ramos also introduced Roger Goodell to the organization as a public relations intern back in 1983, a position that led Goodell to significant achievements since then.

Goodell, who has been NFL commissioner since 2006, referred to Ramos as “a legend of the Jets and the NFL.”

“He was a trusted confidant for players, coaches, and executives, and he never missed a game,” Goodell noted.

Remarkably, Ramos managed to attend 681 consecutive games throughout his 39-year tenure, wearing his Super Bowl ring with pride.

He particularly excelled during moments of crisis, standing out in 1992 when Dennis Byrd suffered a severe neck injury. The situation prompted a masterful PR response from Ramos.

Doug Miller, who worked with Ramos during his first decade, commented on that incident. “Frank wrote the handbook on handling PR crises. It was his masterpiece,” he recalled. “Many would say his biggest moment wasn’t Super Bowl III; it was how he navigated that crisis.”

In professional sports, especially in competitive markets, the relationship between journalists and PR teams can be quite complex. Writers aim for the best stories while PR representatives focus on the team’s interests.

There were times when our perspectives didn’t align, but Ramos was always fair. After his retirement, my appreciation for his work only grew.

Last year, those of us who covered the team during Ramos’ time collaborated to honor him with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Award. We prepared a commemorative box with a plaque showcasing his journey with the Jets over the years.

He was genuinely touched by our gesture and reached out to express his gratitude. The conversations we had were full of fond memories. Hearing his emotion made the moment truly special.

Upon learning of his passing, I reflected on that heartfelt conversation and felt grateful once again for having shared it with him.