And even though he is a backup quarterback, his jersey is now the fifth-best seller at the N.F.L.'s official online store.
The team helped fuel the mania by giving away Manziel T-shirts for anyone who spent $30 on tickets, and replicas of the backup QB's jersey for anyone who spent $90.
For Monday's championship game, there were seven backup No. 5 jerseys on the sideline, four for Te'o and three for Golson.
Until the afternoon of Sept. 23 -- against these very Jets -- Brady wore the uniform of a backup: a crisp, clean jersey, clipboard, headset.
He also worked on the 1965 film In the World of Sharks and invented pieces of scuba equipment still in use today, including the pony bottle (a backup oxygen tank) and the Jersey line (a cord to help divers return to the surface when they can't find the anchor line).
KERSHAW FAN: John McDonald, the veteran backup infielder, has a Clayton Kershaw jersey hanging in his locker.
Parilli's distinction will end when Tim Tebow, the Jets' newest backup, puts on his No. 15 jersey.
Sean Burke of the Phoenix Coyotes and Martin Brodeur of the Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils were also chosen, as backup goalies.
Although he had been relegated to a backup role entering the 49ers' season opener Monday night, Kaepernick's jersey has become the league's top seller.
With the receiver gone now, Chris Hayes, one of Johnson's best friends and the Jets' special teams star and backup safety, honors Johnson by keeping an autographed No. 19 Jets jersey in his locker.
They wear, and pay for, the jerseys of not just the stars but the backup goaltender and the team enforcer.
