Mr. Chris Fuchs
Our Story
"Man these refs are
good!"
good!"
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Logo 1998-Present
48th Season
First Game Played: September 11, 1960
1960: Led by Lamar Hunt and 7 other owners a new football league is formed to rival the NFL. The new league called the American
Football League includes the New York Titans owned Harry Wismer. The Titans who name legendary QB "Slingin" Sammy Baugh
play their home games at the ancient crumbling Polo Grounds are widely viewed as a semi-pro team in a semi-pro league. The AFL
is initially loaded with NFL castoffs, and those college players viewed as not good enough for the 40-year old NFL. The first player
signed by the Titans is Don Maynard a former flanker from Texas-Western, who was passed up by the NFL, and was playing in
Canada. Maynard would go on to have a solid 13-year career, and would go on to the Hall of Fame On September 11th the Titans took
their field for the first time ever at a rain soaked Polo Grounds against the Buffalo Bills. A disappointing crowd of only 10,200 showed
up to watch the Titans win 27-3. Attendance would not improve as the Titans, and AFL played in front of empty stadiums all season in
the league's inaugural season. The Titans would end up going 7-7 finishing in 2nd place.
1961: The Titans continue to toil at .500 posting a 7-7 record for the second straight season as the AFL struggles for creditability
against the NFL and the Jets struggle to get noticed with the NFL's New York Giants going to the NFL Championship Game for the 4th
time in 6 years.
1962: Through their first 3 seasons the Titans continued to struggle around .500, Sammy Baugh was replaced as coach while fans
continued to stay away. Things got so bad that owner Harry Wisner would have fans move down close to the field to give the illusion
on TV more fans were at the game. However, it was far from the case as they only drew 36,151 over 7 home games. Things would get
worse when Wisner was unable to make payroll forcing the AFL to take over the team's finances in November. With all the financial
distractions the Titans would mange to only finish 5-9, and finish in Last Place.
1963: If the AFL was going to survive long term it needed a New York presence, thus finding stable owners for their New York
franchise became the league's top priority. Eventually the team was sold to a group headed by Sonny Werblin for $1 Million. Things
were already looking up for the team, as a new stadium awaited them in 1964, since the new stadium was next to LaGuardia Airport;
the team's name was changed from Titans to Jets. Another more significant move was the hiring of Weeb Ewbank as head coach.
Ewbank who had successfully lead the Baltimore Colts to 2 consecutive NFL Championships in 1958 and 1959, was recently fired,
as the Colts wanted a younger coach. The Jets would still struggle with a 5-8-1 record. However attendance improved immensely as
they drew 103,550 fans over 7 games.
1964: The Jets finally land in a new home as they begin play in the brand new state of the art Shea Stadium. The Jets get off to a flying
start at their new home by trouncing the Denver Broncos 30-7 on September 12th. The Jets would once again struggle to finish 5-8-1,
but there was reason for hope for the future as RB Matt Snell gains 948 yards, and is named AFL rookie of the Year.
1965: Through the AFL's first 5 seasons the league was not considered a serious challenge for the NFL. The AFL was still a last
resort for players who could not make the NFL were too old, or were trying for another shot in pro football. However that landscape
was shaken to its core during the off-season following the 1964 season. On January 2nd just 1 day after playing for National
Champion Alabama in the Orange Bowl Joe Nameth signs a then unheard of $427,000 contract to play for the Jets. Nameth
considered one of the top pro prospects had spurned the NFL to play in what was thought to be a lesser league. In his first season
Nameth would take over as starter early in the season and not look back as he would win the AFL Rookie of the Year while passing
for 2,220 yards, and 18 TDs. However the Jets would finish 5-8-1 for the 3rd season in a row. Even though Nameth didn't bring
immediate success to the Jets he brought about change to pro-football. After the Nameth signing NFL owners worried more college
prospect would be offered big deals to play in the rival league wanted a common draft between the two leagues. As the discussions
of a common draft started the AFL got what it was looking for legitimacy, as the NFL agreed to play the AFL in an annual
Championship game. This would game would later become known as the Super Bowl, and would become a National Holiday for
Millions of Football Fans.
1966: In his second season the raw talent of Joe Nameth becomes to show some of it s potential as he passes for 3,379 yards and
19 touchdowns. However Nameth also throws 26 interceptions as the Jets finish in 3rd place with a mediocre record of 6-6-2.
1967: The development of Joe Nameth continues as he guides the Jets to their first ever winning season in his 3rd year as starting
QB. That year Nameth also began to make his mark in pro-football's record book becoming the first QB ever in either league to pass
for over 4,000 yards in a season. The exciting play of Broadway Joe helped the Jets set an AFL attendance record, selling out every
home game, as Jets games at Shea Stadium became the hottest ticket in New York.
1968: After coming of a successful 8-5-1 season the Jets hoped they could finally win their division, and play for the AFL
Championship. The Jets would get off to a flying start winning their first game over the Kansas City Chiefs thanks in part to ball control
in which the Jets held the ball the final 5:56 of the game. 2 weeks later in their home opener the Jets would pull off another last
minute win as Emerson Boozer scored a TD to give the Jets a 23-20 win over the San Diego Chargers in front of an AFL record crowd
of 63, 786 at Shea Stadium. With the Jets cruising towards the AFL Championship game their November 17th game in Oakland
against the Raiders set itself up as a possible AFL Championship preview. The game was a back and forth affair as the Jets scored
a TD with 1:05 left in the game to pull in front 32-29. However, the high scoring game was taking a while to play, and NBC executive
began to sweat it out as the game was heading close to the 7pm start of the Children's movie Heidi. NBC programmers decided that
the game was over, and decided to pull the end of the game off the air to show Heidi on time and in its entirety. With in seconds
thousands of irate football fans began calling NBC, and their affiliates. Meanwhile the Raiders stormed back and scored 2
Touchdowns in 42 seconds to win the game 43-32. Millions of fans on the East Coast were left in the dark, and assumed the Jets
had won; the outrage forced NBC to apologize, and sent a massage to Television Programmers that Pro-Football was a force on
Television. The game would forever be known as "The Heidi Game". After finishing 11-3 the Jets easily won the Eastern Division and
found themselves in a Heidi Game rematch with Raiders for the AFL Championship at Shea Stadium in front of 62, 627 fans. . The
Jets took a 20-13 lead into the 4th quarter thanks to jumping out to a quick 10-0 lead in the 1st quarter. The Raiders would not go
down easily and would take a 23-20 lead midway through the fourth. However, Joe Nameth and the Jets would not be deterred as he
drove the Jets down the field and threw a 6-uyard pass to original Titan Don Maynard for his 3rd TD pass of the game which a gave
the Jets a 27-23 lead the would not relinquish. The win would earn the Jets a trip to the AFL-NFL Championship game, which for the
first time was officially being called the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl III: Going into Super Bowl III the Jets were 18-point underdogs to the powerhouse Baltimore Colts. In fact the Super Bowl
was considered a mere exhibition since the NFL's Green Bay Packers won the previous two encounters easily. The game had an
ironic twist for Coach Weeb Ewbank in that he was facing his former team, and he was staring at Don Shula the man who replaced
him 5 years earlier as head coach. However, the match-up of Ewbank, and Shula became a mere after thought after Joe Nameth
guaranteed the Jets would win. The guarantee was thought of as a joke, the Jets did not have a chance, and now they were looking
arrogant. Many old school traditional football fans still had not accepted the presence of the AFL, and were pulling for the Colts to shut
the brash young Quarter Back's mouth. Meanwhile AFL fans and players were pulling for the Jets, as their shot at finally being
accepted as a legitimate football league against this back drop Super Bowl II, finally brought mass attention to the Championship
Game. When game time arrived finally al the talking was done, and the Jets and Colts began to play what would become the most
important game in Pro-Football history. After 1 quarter of play the Jets had held the powerful Colts to a stale mate as they harassed
starting QB Earl Morrall all through out the opening period. In the 2nd Quarter the Jets finally got on the board taken a 7-0 lead with
Matt Snell scoring from 4 yards out. The Jets would continue to hold the Colts off the board late in the 2nd Quarter when Morrall drove
the Colts deep into Jets territory. However, in one of the biggest blunders in Super Bowl history Morrall throws an interception into
double coverage while WR Johnny Orr was waving his hands all alone near the endzone. The game would go to halftime 7-0. The
Jets would extend their lead to 10-0 after a long drive that opened the 2nd half. Meanwhile the Jets would continue to frustrate Morrall
into mistakes, and would go into the 4th Quarter leading 13-0 after another Jim Turner FG. In the 4th Quarter Turner would extend the
lead to 16-0, and fans began to realize the Jets might actually have a chance to win this one. However, the Colts would not go down
without a fight. With Morrall being ineffective Don Shula decided to replace him with Johnny Untias, the all-time great QB who had
been hampered all season with injuries, but had the experience to get the Colts back into the game. Unitas would take the Colts
down the field, and put them on the board 16-7, and when the Colts recovered the on-side-kick all of a sudden they were in business.
However, Unitas did not have enough magic in his right arm and was picked off late in the 4th Quarter. The Jets had done they had
won the Super Bowl, the AFL finally had legitimacy, and as the game ended Super Bowl MVP Joe Nameth ran off the field and into the
locker room holding up his finger saying "Were Number 1".
1969: The Jets flight to a 2nd straight Super Bowl hit turbulence even before the start of training camp when QB Joe Nameth suddenly
retired, rather then sell his interest in the nightclub Bachelor's III. NFL commissioner Pete Rosell who now had jurisdiction over the
AFL teams and players demanded Nameth sell the bar because of unsavory characters that were partners in the ownership group.
Eventually Nameth would come to his sense and sell the nightclub, and would rejoin the Jets just in time the preseason. With
Nameth back in the saddle the Jets would finish 10-4 and would cruise to their second consecutive Eastern Division Title. That year
the Jets needed to win an extra game to get to the AFL Championship, since an extra round of playoffs were added. In the
interdivisional round the Jets faced the Kansas City Chiefs at Shea Stadium. The Chiefs defense was able to shut down Broadway
Joe all game forcing him into thrown 3 interceptions. The Jets managed to stay close keeping the game tied at 6 into the 4th Quarter,
but the Chiefs were too much and would pull out a 13-6 win to advance o the AFL Championship Game, and eventually on to Super
Bowl IV, which they won easily.
1970: The merger, which was instigated by the Jets singing of Joe Nameth, and expedited by their victory in Super Bowl III, is finally
completed. Pro-football is now completely housed under one league with the AFL fully joining its once rival league, and 3 NFL teams
joining the AFC to give both conferences an equal number of teams and divisions. Along with the merger, 1970 saw a few other firsts
that have become a regular part of the NFL, and the Jets were right in the middle of these changes. First came on opening day
September 21st when the Jets faced the Brows, (who recently moved to the AFC from the NFL) in Cleveland for the 1st Monday Night
Football game in NFL history. The Jets would end up losing the Monday Night inaugural 31-21. The merger also brought to the AFC
the Jets Super Bowl ii opponents the Baltimore Colts. Not only did they join the AFC, but joined the AFC east meaning they were
guaranteed 2 match-ups against the Jets every year. In the first match up against the Colts on October 18th the Jets season took a
sudden down turn, as Joe Nameth fractures his wrist in the 29-22 loss. The Jets would go on to finish with a disappointing 4-10
record while Nameth sat out the sidelines unable to play. However, the season would see another first as regular season
inter-conference play is introduced. The highlight of the season comes when the Jets face the Giants at Shea Stadium on November
1st in front of a sold out crowd. The Jets would grab an early lead, but without Nameth could not hold as the Giants took the first
regular season math-up 22-10.
1971: The Jets struggle for most of the season finishing with a disappointing record of 6-8 as QB Joe Nameth misses most of the
season due to a preseason knee injury.
1972: A 7-7 season is highlighted by major individual accomplishments. First came Joe Nameth's finest single game performance
on September 24th in Baltimore. Nameth torched the Colts for 496 yards passing as the Jets won 44-34. The next individual
accomplishment on October 15th when Running Backs John Riggins (168 yards) and Emerson Boozer (150) became first tandem in
history to hit the 150-yard mark in a game. The final achievement accomplished by a Jet was when WR Don Maynard playing in his
final NFL season set a new record for career receptions at 632.
1973: The Jets are forced to play their first 6 games on the road, losing 2 home games in the process, as the Shea Stadium is used
by the New York Mets who make an amazing run into the World Series. In the season, which would be Weeb Ewbank's swan song,
the Jets would finish with a disappointing 4-10 record. Ewbank would also be upstaged in his final game on December 16th at Shea
Stadium as Buffalo Bills RB O.J. Simpson rushes for 203 yards becoming the 1st rusher to reach the 2,000-yard mark in NFL history.
1974: After going 1-7 over the first part of the year the Jets snapped their slump with a titillating 26-20 overtime victory over the Giants
at Yale Bowl in Hartford, Connecticut. Joe Nameth threw six yards to Emerson Boozer for the winning points and had a bootleg TD to
tie the score. The win would be the start of a 6-game winning streak that closed out the season at 7-7.
1975: Despite RB John Riggins becoming the first Jet to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, the Jets could not avoid an awful
3-11 season.
1976: Another disastrous 3-11 season is highlighted by Head Coach Lou Holtz's feeble college coaching techniques Holtz style
would fail miserably in the pro, and he would quit before the season's final game. The season would also turn out to be Joe Nameth's
final in a Jets uniform, as the QB who led the Jets to Super Bowl iii is released following the season. Nameth would end up playing 1
final season with the Los Angeles Rams, but the knee injuries that hampered him in his final years with the Jets followed him, and
forced him to retire.
1977: While the Jets struggled with their 3rd consecutive 3-11 season, they won a major off the field court decisions. The Jets who
were sharing Shea Stadium with New York Mets since 1964 were always forced to start the season on the road since the Mets who
were the primary tenant of Shea refused to allow the Jets to play any home games until their season was over. The ruling allowed the
Jets to use Shea Stadium anytime the Mets were not playing, and only served as a precursor to further troubles between the two
teams.
1978: With a new look, and opening game upset over the Miami Dolphins at Shea Stadium the Jets stay in contention for most of the
season before finishing with an 8-8 record.
1979: With Richard Todd taking a bulk of the duties at Quarterback the Jets continue to play .500 football posting an 8-8 record for the
second straight season while finishing in 3rd place.
1980: In his second season as starting, QB Richard Todd suffers through a terrible season as he is picked off 30 times while being
sacked 40 times, as the Jets finish in last place with a miserable 4-12 record, along the way they are the only team to lose to the 1-15
New Orleans Saints.
1981: The Jets get off to a 0-3-1 start and once again look ticketed to an awful season. However a powerful defense that earned the
nickname "New York Sack Exchange". Joe Klecko and Mark Gastineau who lead the NFL in sacks with 20.5, and 20 respectfully lead
the Sack Exchange. The Jets defense would spur them on to a 10-5-1 season, which earns the Jets a Wild Card spot, and their first
trip to the postseason since 1969. In the Wild Card game at Shea Stadium against the Buffalo Bills, the Jets get off to a rough start
falling behind 24-0. However, the Jets would fight their way back into the game before losing 31-27 when QB Richard Todd is
intercepted on the Bill 2 yard line with 10 seconds left in the game.
1982: The Jets suffer a blow in the second game of the season, as Sack Exchange member Joe Klecko is lost for 14 weeks after
suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his knee in the fourth quarter of a 31-7 win at New England. However, Klecko's injury would not
affect the Jets on the field as a 57-day Player's Strike started 2 days later. The strike would shorten the season to 9 games, and would
increase the number of playoff teams to 8 in each conference. Upon their return the Jets would finish 6-3, and make the playoffs
comfortably as the 6th seed. In the 1st Round of the Playoffs the Jets are matched up against the defending AFC Champion
Cincinnati Bengals. RB Freeman McNeil has the second best game in playoff history with 202 yards rushing and Darrol Ray sets a
postseason record with a 98-yard interception for a TD, as the Jets upset the Bengals 44-17 in Cincinnati to mark their first playoff
since Super Bowl III. The Jets would move on face the Raiders in the 2nd Round in Los Angeles. The Jets would stun the experts yet
again beating he silver and black 17-14 to advance on to the AFC Championship Game. Two Lance Mehl interceptions in the final
three minutes sealed the victory for the Jets. In the AFC Championship Game played in Miami against their AFC East rival Dolphins
the Jets find themselves stuck in the mud as a sloppy Orange Bowl makes for a sloppy game. The game would see a combined 12
turnovers as Dolphin LB A.J. Duhe intercepted 3 Richard Todd passes, including 1 in which he returned for a TD that gave the
Dolphins a 14-0 victory. Shortly after the game Head Coach Walt Michaels would resign to take a job in the newly formed USFL.
1983: On October 6th citing Shea Stadium as "rundown, neglected and the NFL's poorest facility for athletes and spectators alike" the
Jets announced their plans to move to the Meadowlands for the 1984 season. The Jets pledged to return to New York City if a
first-class professional stadium is ready for occupancy starting in 1989 under a lease equitable to the city and the Jets. In their final
season at Shea the Jets would finish with a disappointing 7-9 record, which included a 34-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final
game at Shea on December 10th.
1984: The move across the Hudson River to New Jersey gave the Jets a good stadium to play their home games at. No longer did
they play in a horseshoe where the wind would wreck havoc on the style of play like at Shea Stadium. However, they moved into
Giants Stadium, and they lost their identity and became second-class citizens to their NFC rivals. What was worse it brought a major
inconvenience to their largest fan base on Long Island. Even though Jets games were routinely sold out many fans would chose not
to go to the game then travel the 2 hour plus drive across New York City to the Meadowlands. The Jets would lose their Meadowlands
debut 23-17 to the Steelers on September 6th. The loss would be the first of 9 as the Jets once again failed to make the playoffs with
a 7-9 record. However, Mark Gastineau made NFL history by recording 22 sacks, to establish a new official single season record.
1985: The Jets complete a successful 11-5 season which earns them a Wild Card Playoff birth filled with many highlights. On
October14th during an emotional Monday Night Halftime ceremony the Jets retire Joe Nameth's Number 12, and which help inspire
the Jets to a 23-7 victory over the Dolphins. The Jets will offense would also sparkle in two other wins first on November 17th when
the Jets racked up a team record 62 points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That was followed up by a spectacular 96-yard pass
from Ken O'Brien to Wesley Walker on December 8th in Buffalo. However, the Jets success would not carry over into the playoffs.
Turnovers are the story as the Jets commit 4 costly ones while dropping a 26-14 decision to the eventual AFC champions, New
England. The Patriots score the backbreaking TD in the 3rd quarter on the return of a fumbled kickoff.
1986: The Jets get off to a flying start thanks to one of the most memorable games in club history. The Jets topped the Dolphins
51-45 in a wild OT contest. Ken O'Brien, who passed for 479 yards and 4 TD, threw a perfect strike to Wesley Walker from 21 yards
out on the final play of regulation to tie the score. In OT, Walker caught a club record 4th TD on a 43-yard bomb at the 2:35 mark. The
win would help spur the Jets on to an incredible 10-1 start. However, in their 9th straight win Mark Gastineau would injure his knee
and would miss the final 5 weeks of the regular season. The Jets would go on to lose all 5 games falling to a final 10-6 mark.
However, the 10-1 start was still good enough for the Jets to land safely in the playoffs. After ending the season with 5 straight
defeats, Coach Joe Walton names Pat Ryan as the starting QB for the playoffs. The moves seemed to have paid off as the Jets won
their first home playoff games since 1968 with a 35-15 trouncing of the Kansas City Chiefs. The key play of the game was Ryan's
24-yard run on a QB draw on 4th and 6 to the 9-yard line in the 1st quarter. The Jets took the lead 2 plays later and it set the tone of the
game. The Jets would move on to the Divisional Playoffs against the Browns in Cleveland. The Jets appeared to be on the way to the
AFC Championship with a 20-10 lead with 4:14 left in the game, before the Browns mounted their comeback that tied the score.
Aiding the Browns comeback was Mark Gastineau who had 2 unsportsmanlike penalties t6aht gave the Browns 15 yards each. The
Jets, would receive a 2nd life in OT when Mark Moseley missed a 23-yard FG, but his 27-yard FG, 2:02 into the 2nd OT sent the
Browns to the AFC championship game.
1987: The Jets get off to a strong start winning their first 2 games. However, the NFL would go on strike as replacement players were
used over the next 3 games. Though Mark Gastineau would cross the picket line the Jets would win just 1 if the 3 scab games. When
the regulars returned the Jets would struggle as the split their next 6 games. Nonetheless they were in the thick of the race for the
AFC East title with a 6-5 record heading into December. However, come December the Jets would go into a complete tailspin losing
their final 4 games as they finished in last place with a 6-9 record.
1988: On October 21st not even half way through the season LB Mark Gastineau stuns the Jets and the NFL by retiring citing personal
reasons. The Jets never were in the race for a playoff spot but on the final game of the season the Jets beat the Giants 27-21 to post a
winning record at 8-7-1 and in the process knocked the Giants out of the playoffs. Al Toon caught the winning 5-yard TD pass on a
Ken O'Brien 3rd down audible with only 37 seconds left.
1989: The Jets put together a dismal 4-12 season in which fans expressed their ire at Head Coach by chanting "Joe Must Go". Things
would only get worse for the Jets as Gang Green is shutout each of the teams final home games, while fans chanted and held sings
aimed at the coach. Shortly after the season the Jets gave their fans what they wished for when Head Coach Joe Walton was fired.
1990: Under new Coach Bruce Coslet the Jets would continue to struggle as they started to rebuild by letting past stars like Marty
Lyons, Mickey Schuler, and Wesley Walker go and rebuilding with youth in the draft. The young Jets are led by first round draft pick
Rob Moore who scores 6 TDs while collecting a solid 692 receiving yards. Despite hitting double digits in losses for the second
straight season the Jets close the season on a positive note with 2 straight wins while tallying a 6-10 record.
1991: The Jets muddle through a mediocre season and enter the final game of the season in Miami with a 7-8 record. However, by
beating the Dolphins earlier in the season the Jets were actually in position to the make the playoffs via tiebreaker by beating their
heated rivals. If the Jets were going to win the game they would have to do it without their all-time leading kicker Pat Leahy, who was
forced to the sidelines with an injury. The game would prove to be a back and forth tilt with Miami taking the lead with 44 seconds left.
However the Jets would quickly get into FG position and Leahy's replacement Raul Allegree booted a 44-yard FG t send the game to
Overtime. In OT Allegree was the hero again nailing a 30-yarder to send the 8-8 Jets to the playoffs. In their 1st playoff game in 5
years, several 2nd half mistakes prevented the Jets from registering an upset win at Houston as they fell, to the Oilers 17-10.
1992: After a 5-0 preseason in which 1st year starting QB Browning Nagle shinned there was hope and optimism abound for the Jets
and their fans. Nagle would get off to a flying start as he threw for 366 yards and 2 TD in the season opener at Atlanta. The yardage
total was the 2nd highest by an NFL QB making his 1st start. However, Nagle and the Jets dream would go crashing back to reality as
both struggled all season, and would wind up winning less games in the regular season then the preseason and the Jets finished a
woeful 4-12. However, the story of the season comes on November 29th when DE Dennis Byrd was partially paralyzed in a freak
collision with teammate Scott Mersereau in the 3rd quarter of a game against the Chiefs. Most Doctors thought Byrd would never walk
again, but spinal surgery and allot of hard work helped Byrd overcome his injuries, and walk again. Byrd would become an
inspirational figure among his teammates and all who suffer spinal cord injuries, by giving them hope for the future. The Jets would
use Byrd as an inspiration in the game following the injury as the Jets stunned the Bills in Buffalo, allowing the Jets to snap a 5-year
losing streak to the Bills.
1993: After a slow start the Jets make a run for the playoffs thanks to a midseason 5-game winning streak. The Jets would go into the
final game of the season with fate in their won hands. A win and they were in the playoffs with a 9-7 record. However, the Jets were
never in the games as the Oilers shut the Jets out 24-0. After the game Head Coach Bruce Coslet was fired, and replaced by
Defensive Coordinator Pete Carroll.
1994: The Pete Carroll era gets off to a good start as the Jets stand at 6-5 after their first 11 games. In the 6 wins include a sweep of
the Bill, and a win in Miami. The stage was set for a 1st Place showdown with Dolphins on November 27th at the Meadowlands. The
Jets would come flying out of the gate as 75,606 people, the largest home attendance mark in Jets history, came to watch the show
down. The Jets fans were loud and all their feet all game long as the Jets held a 24-6 lead in the 3rd Quarter. However Dolphins QB
Dan Marino guided the Dolphins back into the game ad after 2 TDs the Dolphins were with in a FG as Marino drove the Dolphins
down the file in the final minute. Marino passed the ball deep into Jets territory with 30 seconds left and wet to the line as if he was
going to stop the clock, instead he faked the Jets out and threw a TD to Mark Ingram to give the Dolphins a 28-24 victory. The Jets
would not recover; they would lose their final 5 games and finish the season 6-10. At the end of the season Carroll is let go and
replaced by Richie Kotite little did anyone know the Jets miseries had just begun.
1995: The Richie Kotite era gets off to a terrible start as the Jets are pummeled in their first game on the road by the Miami Dolphins
52-14. Though the Jets would get revenge against the Dolphins later in the season with a 17-16 win at the Meadowlands the Jets and
their fans are forced to endure a terrible 3-13 season that is worse then the NFL's 2 expansion teams.
1996: With the hopes of a quick turnaround the Jets drafted WR Keyshawn Johnson with the Number1 overall pick, and singed Free
Agent QB Neil O'Donnell who had just guided the Steelers to the Super Bowl. With these two new acquisitions most thought the Jets
would show measured improvements, after 3-13 it was hard to imagine things would get worse. However, things would get worse far
worse, as the Jets suffered through their worst season ever winning just 1 game, and losing 15. The Jets really would hit rock bottom
in a blow out loss to the Oilers in a cold and rainy Giants Stadium. Though the game was sold out more then 60,000 no-shows led to
almost empty Meadowlands, which would be completely emptied as the Oilers continued to pour it on. After the season Richie Kotite
was fired with a miserable 2-year record of 4-28.
1997: After going 4-33 since the Marino spike play desperate measures were needed to changes the fortunes of the Jets. These
drastic changes included luring Bill Parcells away from the AFC Champion New England Patriots. However, Patriots owner Bob Kraft
was no willing to let a division rival take his coach away so easily. Eventually NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue stepped in and the
Jets gave the Patriots several draft picks over 3 years as a form of compensation. The move would pay immediate dividends, as the
Jets were 9-6 going into the final game of the season in Detroit. The Jets would lose the game 13-10, and would miss out on the
playoffs, but for the first time in years there was reason for hope.
1998: Looking to improve the team further the Jets signed RB Curtis Martin, and QB Vinny Testaverde. Initially Testaverde was the
back-up QB behind Glenn Foley, but after Foley was ineffective early Testaverde came in and the Jets took off. In a season in which
the Jets returned to their old look made famous by Super Bowl III, the Jets looked like Champions finishing 12-4, and winning their
first division title since 1969, ending the longest drought in the NFL. After earning a 1st Round Bye the Jets needed just 1 win to earn
a trip to the AFC Championship Game. In a wild game, against the Jacksonville Jaguars the Jets jumped to a 17-0 lead in the 2nd
quarter only to see the Jaguars get back into it before surging to another 17-point bulge, 31-14. The Jaguars closed to 31-24 before
John Hall's 30-yard FG closed the door sending the Jets to their 1st conference championship game in 16 years. In the AFC
Championship The Jets took a 10-0 3rd quarter lead in Denver, but were unable to play the mistake-free football they had played all
season and saw the Broncos come back for a 23-10 victory en route to defending their Super Bowl championship. After taking their
10-0 lead via a FG and a blocked punt resulting in a TD, the Jets were victimized by a couple of big plays by John Elway and the
running of Terrell Davis 1967 yards and 1TD The Jets lost 4 fumbles and had 2 passes deflected into interceptions.
1999: After falling 1 game short of the Super Bowl, there was no reason not to think Jets were a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
However, the Jets Super Bowl dreams died in the 1st half of the 1st Game when QB Vinny Testaverde ruptured his Achilles tendon.
The injury left the Jets without a starting QB, and would lead to a 4-8 start. However Ray Lucas would start the final 4 games of the
season allowing the Jets to finish with a respectable 8-8 record.
2000: Shortly after the 1998 AFC Championship Longtime Jets owner Leon Hess died of complications from a blood disease.
Through out the injury plagued 1999 season the Jets were up for sale, and as the season-ended final an owner was found. The New
Jets owner was Johnson and Johnson CEO Robert Wood Johnson. Head Coach Bill Parcells went through an ownership change in
New England and was not comfortable dealing with a new boss, and resigned. His top assistant Bill Belichick would then take over.
However, in a bizarre reversal of Bill Parcells arrival Belichick would resign and take the Patriots job, with Jets receiving compensation
in the form of draft picks. With Parcells, resigned to a front office job and Belichick off to New England the Jets were forced to settle on
Al Groh as their new Head Coach. The Jets get off to a fast start under Groh with a respectable 9-4 through the first 13 games. The
fast start is highlighted by the biggest comeback in the history of Monday Night Football on October 23rd. The Jets score 23 points in
the 4th quarter against Miami; take the game to overtime where John Hall kicks the winning field goal, giving the Jets a 40-37 victory.
However the Jets would stall losing their final 3 and missing the playoffs. Shortly after the season Al Groh decides to leave the Jets to
coach the University of Virginia.
2001: An ugly Week 6 loss at home to the St. Louis Rams dropped the Jets to 3-3, as the run defense allowed Rams backup RB
Trung Candidate to get over 200 rushing yards. A week later the Jets narrowly beat the Carolina Panthers 13-12, and looked to be a
team heading in the wrong direction. However, the win was the start of a 4 game winning streak and the Jets enjoyed a Thanksgiving
week off in first place. However the late season collapses of season's past reared its ugly head again as the Jets dropped 3 of their
next 5 and faced a must win game in the final week of the season just to make the playoffs. Making matters worse the Jets had to win
in Oakland a place they had not won in 30 years. The Raiders and Jets battled back and forth all day before John Hall nailed a 53-yard
field goal that sent the Jets flying into the postseason with a 24-22 win that ended the Jets season at 10-6. The win would set up a
Wild Card rematch in Oakland 6 days later, and the same magic was not be found, as the Raiders torched the Jets all day in a 38-24
shootout.
2002: The Jets began the season with a bang in Buffalo as Chad Morton returned 2 kickoffs all the way for touchdowns including in
overtime as the Jets beat the Bills 37-31. However, the Jets would go into a tailspin in the next 3 games as they were outscored
102-13 over their next 3 games. In a move hoping to jump-start the team, Coach Herman Edwards benched QB Vinny Testaverde in
favor of Chad Pennington. In his first Pennington seemed to give the Jets a spark, but they would blow a late lead at home to the
Kansas City Chiefs to fall to 1-4. After beating the Minnesota Vikings the Jets blew another 4th quarter lead at home to the Cleveland
Browns as they continued to struggle with a 2-5 record. Most had counted the Jets out and a reporter asked Coach Herman Edwards
if the Jets were playing out the string. Edwards respond in anger, "You Play to win, that's all you ever do in this league." Play to win is
exactly what the Jets did as they embarked on a 4-game winning streak to get back in the race. However, a bad loss on the road to the
Chicago Bears in Week 15 had most again doubting the Jets who needed to win their final 2 games and get allot of help to make the
playoffs. The Jets would do their part in primetime beating the New England Patriots on the road in primetime 30-17 to keep their slim
playoff hopes alive. Entering the final game with a record of 8-7 the Jets need a win and the Patriots to beat the Miami Dolphins to
make the playoffs. As the Jets took the field things looked bleak as the Patriots trailed the Dolphins all game. However the Pats would
rally to send the game in overtime where they won on a field goal by Adam Vinateiri. As the final score went up a thunderous eruption
from the crowd at the Meadowlands sent the message the Jets were still alive. The energy from the crowd seemed to spark
something in the Jets who erupted for a dominating 42-17 win over the Green Bay Packers to win the competitive AFC East with a
record of 9-7. The Jets continued to fly high 6 days later as they dominated the Indianapolis Colts 41-0 to set up a rematch with
Oakland Raiders in the Divisional Playoffs. The Jets were flying so high after their improbable late season run it seemed they could
have gone to Oakland without an airplane. The Jets played the Raiders tough through the firs 30 minutes as they tied the game at 10
with a late TD. However, the Jets seemed to run out of steam in seconds half as the Raiders dominated them to win the game 30-10
to advance to the AFC Championship.
2003: After a rough off-season that saw the Jets lose several key players to free agency the Jets took on more turbulence in the
preseason when QB Chad Pennington broke his wrist in a preseason game against the New York Giants. With Vinny Testaverde
starting under center the Jets season was almost over before it begun as they dropped their first 4 games. After 2 straight wins
Pennington returned during a 24-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, allowing him to shake off the rust for his first start the following
week against the Giants. Pennington would play well as the Jets and Giants battled a full overtime period before the Giants won
31-28 on a FG that dropped the Jets to 2-6. However with Pennington back the Jets started playing better winning 3 of their next 4
games. However the Jets would sputter home as losing 3 of their last 4 as they landed in last place with a record of 6-10.
2004: With Chad Pennington healthy at the start of the season the Jets would get off to a flying start winning their first 5 games.
However in the middle of the season the Jets would sputter losing 3 of 4 games as the Jets offense struggled, with Pennington
suffering tendonitis. With back up QB Quincy Carter the Jets managed to win 3 in a row to sit at 9-3 entering a December 12th match
up with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game was tied at 3 entering the 4th Quarter, before Jerome Bettis ran wild scoring a TD on a run
and throwing a pass as the Steelers won 17-6. The loss would be the first of 3 as the Jets limped hoe losing 3 of their last 4 games.
However, their 10-6 record would still be good enough to earn them a playoff berth. The Jets would also see Curtis Martin who
passed the 13,000 career yardage mark, win the rushing title 1,697 yards rushing beating out Shaun Alexander of the Seattle
Seahawks by 1 yard in the closest race for the rushing title in NFL history. Also playing a key roll in the Jets playoff appearance was an
improved defense which was led by 1st round draft pick Jonathan Vilma who had 105 tackles, and 3 interceptions while winning the
Defensive Rookie of the Year. In the playoffs the Jets faced the San Diego Chargers, the Jets defense controlled the game early, as
they held LaDainian Tomlinson to under 100 yards, while holding a 17-7 lead into the 4th Quarter. The Jets appeared to have the
game won as the Chargers 4th down pass was incomplete. However a roughing penalty on Eric Barton gave the Chargers a 2nd
chance as they tied the game with 16 seconds left 1 play later. In overtime the Jets would dodge a major bullet as the Chargers
played conservatively once driving into Jets territory, before Nate Kaeding missed a 40-yard Field Goal. The Jets would take
advantage of this second life and would win the game 20-17 on 28-yard FG by Doug Brien for their first road playoff win in 22 years. A
week later against the 15-1 Steelers the Jets defense was again rising to the occasion as Reggie Tounge returned an interception
86-yards to give the Jets a 17-10 lead in the 3rd quarter. The Steelers would battle back to tie the game. However the Jets would have
a chance to win the game in regulation only to see Doug Brien miss a 47-yard FG with 1:58 left. The Jets defense would again step
up intercepting Steelers super rookie Ben Roethlisberger again, but the Jets like the Chargers a week earlier played too
conservatively, as Brien's 43-yard attempt at the end of regulation also missed. In overtime the Steelers would take advantage
winning the game on a 33-yard FG by Jeff Reed for a 20-17 win to advance to the AFC Championship.
HISTORICAL FACTS
Alternate Logo
2001-Present
2001-Present
Played As:
New York Titans
1960-1962
New York Jets
1963-Present
New York Titans
1960-1962
New York Jets
1963-Present
Coaches: (16)
Sammy Baugh 1960-1961
Bulldog Turner 1962
Weeb Ewbank 1963-1973
Charley Winner 1974-1975
Ken Shipp 1975
Lou Holtz 1976
Mike Holovak 1976
Walt Michales 1977-1982
Joe Walton 1983-1989
Bruce Coslet 1990-1993
Pete Carroll 1994
Richie Kotite 1995-1996
Bill Parcells 1997-1999
Al Groh 2000
Herman Edwards 2001-2006
Eric Mangini - 2006-Present
Sammy Baugh 1960-1961
Bulldog Turner 1962
Weeb Ewbank 1963-1973
Charley Winner 1974-1975
Ken Shipp 1975
Lou Holtz 1976
Mike Holovak 1976
Walt Michales 1977-1982
Joe Walton 1983-1989
Bruce Coslet 1990-1993
Pete Carroll 1994
Richie Kotite 1995-1996
Bill Parcells 1997-1999
Al Groh 2000
Herman Edwards 2001-2006
Eric Mangini - 2006-Present
Stadiums: (3)
Polo Grounds 1960-1963
Shea Stadium 1964-1983
Giants Stadium 1984-Present
Polo Grounds 1960-1963
Shea Stadium 1964-1983
Giants Stadium 1984-Present
Hall of Famers:(5)
Weeb Ewbank Coach 1963-1973
Ronnie Lott S 1994
Don Maynard WR 1960-1972
Joe Namath QB 1965-1976
John Riggins RB 1971-1975
Weeb Ewbank Coach 1963-1973
Ronnie Lott S 1994
Don Maynard WR 1960-1972
Joe Namath QB 1965-1976
John Riggins RB 1971-1975
Nickname:
Named in 1963 after the Jets that flew overhead at Shea Stadium, their home starting in 1964 from nearby LaGuardia Airport. It
also gave them a name that rhymed with Mets, who they shared Shea Stadium with at the time.
Named in 1963 after the Jets that flew overhead at Shea Stadium, their home starting in 1964 from nearby LaGuardia Airport. It
also gave them a name that rhymed with Mets, who they shared Shea Stadium with at the time.
Retired Numbers: (3)
12 Joe Namath QB 1965-1976
13 Don Maynard WR 1960-1972
73 Joe Klecko DE 1977-1987
12 Joe Namath QB 1965-1976
13 Don Maynard WR 1960-1972
73 Joe Klecko DE 1977-1987
SEASON SUMMARIES