Move over Fireman Ed — this new chant leader is smokin’!
Online voters have chosen Jets superfan Derek Tabacco to orchestrate the J-E-T-S cheer when Gang Green tackles the Raiders on Opening Day next Sunday, The Post has learned.
“This is like the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me!” roared Tabacco, 44, of Annadale, Staten Island, upon learning the news. “I’m probably one of the biggest Jets fans there is!”
Tabacco was among 22 semifinalists in the contest initiated by the Jets to select eight season-ticket holders — one for each home game — to lead the squad’s iconic chant.
“I plan to bring the passion that I’ve been building up as a Jets fan for the past 40 years,” vowed Tabacco, who will be in Section 118 down by one of the goal lines.
An ex-Wall Streeter who runs a Hurricane Sandy relief nonprofit called Guyon Rescue and has appeared on the reality show “Millionaire Matchmaker,” Tabacco said he aims to follow in the footsteps of “Fireman Ed” Anzalone, who retired as chant leader in 2012 after a devastating Jets loss. He’ll even sit on a friend’s shoulders while whipping up the crowd, like his predecessor.
“He’s one of the greatest Jets fans there ever was — and I plan to bring as much, if not more, enthusiasm than Fireman Ed,” Tabacco said.
Because his group ran a relief center on Staten Island’s devastated eastern shore, pals started to call Tabacco “Rescue Man” — a persona he debuts in his 15-second audition video and will adopt at the game, donning a yellow hazard vest, orange gloves and a Jets helmet.
“Now it’s my responsibility to rally over 80,000 fans when the Jets are in need,” he says in his video.
Tabacco — a self-described “social- media freak” — smoked the competition by recruiting friends to vote for him. He was the top vote-getter among the 3,000 ballots cast since the polls opened last Wednesday, the team said.
