Anzalone wears
Bruce Harper's jersey to games. 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. In 1999, Fireman Ed was included in an exhibit at the
Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Hall of Fans. 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. On September 25, 2009, Fireman Ed was given a game ball from the Jets Week 2 victory over the
New England Patriots. 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. 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. 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. 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. On September 13, 2015, Fireman Ed returned in character at the Jets' home opener against the
Cleveland Browns, and he has continued this tradition as of the 2024 season. ==Controversy==