
Jets of Harlem founder Jamel Wright (Left) confers with an assistant coach at a recent practice. (Photo by Nate Rawlings)
Two Jets of Harlem teams remain undefeated six weeks into play in the Big Apple Youth Football League.
The Jets’ Pee Wee team, for boys under 11, boasts an 8-0 record; the younger Might-Mite Green team, its members under 9, is 7-0-1, with its only blemish a 0-0 tie.
“The kids are looking really good so far, and we’re playing some great football,” said Jets of Harlem founder and head coach Jamel Wright.
Wright established Jets of Harlem five years ago. It now fields seven youth football teams for boys 7 to 18 who play and practice at Harlem River Park in East Harlem.
“For me, this whole thing is about much more than football,” said Wright, who works as an MTA administrator. “I’m a firm believer that if you don’t give kids something to do, they’ll do something, and it’s not always good.”
Wright has applied his philosophy to the entire organization, requiring all players to present monthly school progress reports to their coaches and parents. “About 90 percent of our guys are at or above grade level,” Wright said. “If they’re struggling in school, instead of one practice a week, they’re required to go to the El Faro Beacon Tutorial Center and get help. They can also go on off days, anything they need to do better in school.”
Wright has long run the day-to-day operations out of his apartment on First Avenue. Although the organization rents a storage locker, the paperwork associated with keeping track of more than 130
players takes up a great deal of space, he said.
But in July, real estate developer Hans Futterman provided the Jets with a 2200 square feet office space on the second floor of a condominium at 2280 Frederick Douglass Boulevard.
“I’m a huge fan of the program,” and a Jets parent, Futterman said in an email. “The team has signed an extended 10-year lease with zero rent and the option to extend for another 10 years. They will move in around April,” he later added.
While Wright hopes the new office space will help with his logistical work, practices remain hectic with seven teams — more than 100 players — practicing on a single field. “This is controlled chaos, that’s what this is,” Wright said at a recent practice as he spent a full hour distributing game uniforms to dozens of players.
Across the field, as players ran blocking drills, parents gathered to yell instructions and encouragement.
Two of the organization’s seven teams have dominated the competition this fall. The Pee Wee team defeated five of its opponents by an average score of 48-0, including a 56-0 rout of the Downtown Giants in September, and have only surrendered six points all season. The Mighty Mite (Green) team played two close games before winning the next three by 49-0 and 40-0 and 28-0 respectively.
“That’s my son, Steven,” said Steven Umlauf, a managing director for Morgan Stanley and father of an 8-year-old offensive tackle. “Steven, don’t jump offsides!” he yelled, then resumed the conversation. “Coach Mel runs a great organization, and we’re just excited to be here to help.”








I agree, Coach Mel, the Staff, the Team and the Cheer Leaders are doing a excellent job. The Presence of The Lord be With You and Your Team Always. Grandmother, team member # 25.