Football Jets

History of the New York Football Jets

The history of the New York Jets is one of a proud franchise who have achieved the highest award in all of football, a Superbowl Championship, and have had some spectacular players thoughout their existence.

The New York Football Jets history begins with the birth of the franchise in 1959 when Harry Wismer was granted a charter AFL franchise. The original name of the team was the New York Titans until 1963 when the New York Titans moved into the brand new Shea Stadium in Queens, NY and changed their name to the New York Jets because of the many airplanes that flew over the stadium each day.

Despite being a new team, the New York Titans had decent success on the field in their first few seasons but unfortunately had attendance problems in the Polo Grounds which hurt the team’s finances. David “Sonny” Werblin in February 1963 bought the bankrupt franchise for $1 million dollars, changed the name to the New York Jets, and hired Hall of Famer Weeb Ewbank as head coach. Immediate improvement to attendance was seen in the new stadium as the Jets set an AFL attendance record of 45,665 in the season opener against the Denver Broncos. Weeb Ewbank had won championships with the Baltimore Colts during the 1950′s was doing a fine job helping the New York Jets establish themselves. Ewbank got help from the owner Sonny Werblin when he was fortunate enough to sign a highly desired quarterback from the University of Alabama named Joe Namath for a large contract worth $400,000. The signing was not just big for the New York Jets who needed talent but for the entire AFL who were struggling to compete with the NFL for respect.

The greatest team in New York Jets history came with Joe Namath leading the way in 1968 all the way to a history making, league changing, upset Superbowl victory over the heavily favored extremely talented Baltimore Colts. Weeb Ewbank coached the 1968 Superbowl Jets to 16-7 victory behind the talents of Joe Namath, Don Maynard and a team full of contributors. The Jets first defeated the Oakland Raiders 27-23 on a fourth quarter drive to win the AFL Championship. Leading up to Superbowl III the sports world figured the matchup with the offensive jugernaut NFL Baltimore Colts and the AFL New York Jets was being viewed as an easy win for the NFL and another blow to the AFL. However, a few days before Superbowl III Joe Namath shocked the world by guaranteeing a New York Jets victory and then on Superbowl Sunday delivered on his promise.

In 1984 the New York Jets moved from Shea Stadium into Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. The attendance in Shea Stadium averaged well over 50,000 fans per game and the move to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey has not changed the fans enthusiasm for supporting the team. Virtually every Jets home game is played in front of a sell out crowd. The game day crowd is always very energized and chants of J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets! can be heard loud and clear from the Jets faithful throughout the game.

Year by Year History of the New York Jets

1960

Eight owners including Lamar Hunt create a new football league to compete with well established NFL. The new league is the AFL and one of the original 8 franchises belongs to owner Harry Wismer. Harry Wismer team is the New York Titans who play in the aging Polo Grounds. The New York Titans open the season with NFL star quarterback “Slingin” Sammy Baugh as their head coach and a team full of ex-NFL players who were no longer fit to play in the NFL and college players who were considered to lack the talent to play in the NFL. One of these players, Don Maynard is the first to sign with the New York Titans and goes on to have a Hall of Fame career. The first game against the Buffalo Bills is a lopsided 27-3 victory in front of only 10,200 fans. The attendance doesn’t improve throughout the inaugural season and the team finishes with a 7-7 record and in 2nd place.

1961

Another 7-7 season in the AFL. The AFL still in its infancy is completely overshadowed by the NFL and the New York Titans are completely overshadowed by the New York Giants who again play in the NFL Championship game.

1962

The Titans finish in last place with a 5-9 record and off the field problems for the franchise arise. With lackluster attendance, 7 home games and only 36,151 total tickets sold, finances for the owner were so bad that the league had to bail out the owner to pay the players.

1963

With the AFL needing a strong NY franchise to establish themselves against the NFL, Sonny Werblin helps the league and the New York Titans by buying the team for $1 Million. The sale of the team was not the only good news for the team, as a new coach and a new stadium were also bringing hope. Shea Stadium was under construction and ready to open near La Guardia airport for the 1964 season and the owner decided to change the name to the Jets because of the airplanes flying over the stadium. Ownership hired Weeb Ewbank as the new head football coach. Weeb Ewbank had won championships in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts. The immediate impact of a famous coach and the excitement generated by the news of the new stadium under construction helps bring 103,550 fans to the 7 home games despite another losing season at 5-8-1.

1964

Shea stadium opens and AFL Rookie of the Year running back Matt Snell totals 948 yards for the New York Jets who again finish 5-8-1.

1965

The AFL has one of its brightest moments as National Champion Alabama highly regarded quarterback Joe Namath shocks the NFL by signing with the AFL’s New York Titans for a record breaking contract of $427,000 that immediately gives credibility to the AFL. Joe Namath earns the second NY Jets AFL Rookie of the Year honor by throwing for 2,220 yards, and 18 touchdowns, but the team again finishes for the third year in a row with a 5-8-1 record. The Joe Namath signing brought change to the NFL by giving the AFL the respect they needed. Many NFL owners thought more top talent would end up signing large contracts with the AFL in the future so they decided it would be in their best interest to have a common draft between the two leagues. The NFL also agreed to play a championship game between the two league champions at the end of the season, a game which would soon be known as the greatest sporting event every year, the Superbowl.

1966

Joe Namath leads the team to a 6-6-2 season by throwing for 3,379 yards and 19 touchdowns but throws 27 interceptions.

1967

Behind Joe Namath the Jets post their first winning season. “Broadway Joe” as he is nicknamed sets an AFL and NFL record for passing yards by being the first player ever to throw for over 4,000 yards in a season. Shea Stadium is sold out for every game and talk about the exciting Jets begins to overshadow the New York Giants.

1968

The New York Jets play in front of record crowds en route to an 11-3 record, a division title, and a trip to the AFL Championship game against the Oakland Raiders. In a back and forth game, the Oakland Raiders took a 4th quarter lead 23-20. However, Joe Namath wasn’t done as he led a drive down the field and from the 6 yard line found original New York Titan Don Maynard for his third touchdown pass of the game giving the Jets a 27-23 lead which would turn out to be the final score. The Jets had won the AFL Championship and now had a meeting with destiny in the Superbowl III against the Baltimore Colts. Most people gave the 18 point underdogs no chance against one of the best teams in NFL history. However, Superbowl MVP Joe Namath and the entire team believed they could win and went onto the field and made it happen. The shocking victory in Superbowl III finally put the AFL on top of the NFL.

1969

The New York Jets try at repeating as Superbowl Champions got off to a good start by compiling a 10-4 record. The league added an extra round of playoff games this year so the Jets faced the Kansas City Chiefs to try and reach the AFL Championship game. Joe Namath threw three interceptions in a tight game that was tied 6-6 in the fourth quarter, but in the end Kansas City pulled out a 13-6 win and went on to win the Superbowl.

1970

1970 saw huge changes in the Pro Football world. The biggest change was the full merger between the NFL and AFL so that one unified league was created. Several teams left the NFL to join the AFL to balance the number of teams in each. The introduction of inter-league play began which included a sell out crowd that watched the New York Giants play against the New York Jets. In that game the Jets got off to an early lead before the Giants came back to win 29-22. In that game and throughout most of the season Joe Namath was sidelined with a broken wrist. The other major change in Pro Football was the first Monday Night Football game ever played. In that Monday Night Football game, the Cleveland Browns beat the New York Jets 31-21. Without their star quarterback in the lineup throughout the season, the Jets lose most of their games and finish the season 4-10.

1971

Again the Jets suffer another losing season at 6-8 because of a preseason knee injury to quarterback Joe Namath.

1972

The New York Jets 1972 season turns out to be average record wise at 7-7 but significant from individual standpoints as several Jets make headlines with individual accomplishments. Against the Baltimore Colts, Joe Namath has his best game as in the NFL on September 24th passing for 496 yards to lead the Jets to a 44-34 victory. A month later on October 15th running backs John Riggins rushes for 168 yards and teammate Emerson Boozer rushes for 150 yards to became the first teammates in football history to both rush for at least 150-yards in the same game. Don Maynard also broke a record this season when he caught his 632 career pass giving him the most by any receiver in NFL history.

1973

As detailed in the New York Mets Blog the Mets make an improbable run all the way to the 1973 World Series which forces the New York Jets to open the season with 6 road games en route to a disastrous 4-10 record in Coach Ewbank’s last season as head coach.

1974

Another terrible start to the season as the Jets were 1-7, but then a remarkable come from behind victory led by Joe Namath over the New York Giants got things rolling. The Jets won the rest of their games in 1974 to finish a respectable 7-7.

1975

John Riggins becomes the first New York Jet to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season but the Jets get beat over and over to finish 3-11.

1976

The Jets go 3-11 again under head coach Lou Holtz whose successful college playbook just plain does not work in the pros. Joe Namath last season as a New York Jet is nothing special and he retires one year later never fully returning to his Superbowl MVP form following the knee injury he suffered a few years back.

1977

The third consecutive 3-11 season is highlighted only by the Jets winning a court decision against the Mets which would allow them to use the stadium anytime the Mets were not using it. This helps because before this ruling the Jets were forced to play road games until the Mets season was completely over.

1978

A more competitive team manages to finish at .500 going 8-8.

1979

Another 8-8 forgettable season.

1980

The Jets finish 4-12 and really hit the bottom when the New Orleans Saints win only one game all season and that win is against the Jets.

1981

A miserable 0-3-1 start to the season looks like another wasted season but then the defense kicks it in gear. Joe Klecko and Mark Gastineau lead the nicknamed “New York Sack Exchange” defense leading the league with 20.5 and 20 sacks respectfully and are credited with the turnaround that takes the Jets to a 10-5-1 record and a wild card playoff spot. Entering the postseason for the first time since 1969 the New York Jets trailed the Buffalo Bills 24-0 before making it an extremely close game. With 10 seconds left in the 4th quarter, QB Richard Todd threw an interception on the Buffalo Bills 2 yard line that resulted in the Jets losing a heartbreaker 31-27.

1982

In a strike shortened season that allows teams to only play 9 games the Jets finish 6-3 and make the playoffs. With the strike shortened season the playoff system is temporarily changed allowing for 8 teams to make the playoffs. In the first round against the favored Cincinnati Bengal’s RB Freeman McNeil rushes for 202 yards and Darrol Ray 98 yard interception return for a touchdown is the longest in playoff history. These two key Jets performers propel the team to an on the road playoff upset over the Bengals 44-17. With the second round match-up with the Oakland Raiders, the Jets again find themselves to be heavy underdogs. However, Mean Green would triumph again this time 17-14 in a very close game that was decided on two late defensive interceptions on Oakland QB Lance Mehl. Advancing to the AFC Championship game against division rival Miami Dolphins, the New York Jets played poorly on the muddy field. With a total of 12 turnovers in the game that included a Dolphin interception return for a touchdown, the New York Jets got shut out 14-0.

1983

With Shea Stadium falling well behind the rest of the stadiums in the NFL, the New York Jets management announce plans to play the following season in New Jersey’s Meadowlands. Jets claim they promise to return to NY as soon as a top of the line stadium is built, something that never happens in NY. On the field the Jets play mediocre football finishing with a record of 7-9 including the final New York Jets Football game played in Shea Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a 34-7 loss on December 10, 1983.

1984

Mark Gastineau sets a single season sack record of 22 sacks during the 1984 season. However, the team struggles and again finishes 7-9. This was their first season in the Meadowlands where they shared the stadium with the NFC New York Giants. Still playing to sell out crowds, many Long Island fans choose not to travel the 2 plus hours to support the team and a new fan base in New Jersey is created.

1985

Jets make the playoffs in 1985 by winning the Wild Card during an exciting season. Joe Namath has his number 12 retired and the Jets score a franchise record 62 points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, in the first round of the playoffs against New England, the New York Jets turn the ball over 4 times that helps New England advance to the next round 26-14.

1986

The New York Jets shoot out of the gate with a 10-1 mark until an injury to defensive star Mark Gastineau screws up the team chemistry and the Jets lose their last 5 games but manage to make the playoffs regardless. During one of the regular season games against the Miami Dolphins, Jets QB Ken O’Brien throws for 479 yards and 4 touchdowns all of them to Wesley Walker which sets a team record for touchdown receptions in a single game. The 51-45 overtime wild overtime win including a last second touchdown reception to tie the score in regulation and a game winning touchdown reception in overtime. However, losing five straight games going into the playoffs didn’t exactly have the team confident, but Head Coach Joe Walton quarterback change from Ken O’Brien to Pat Ryan is a key move that helps the Jets beat Kansas City easily 35-15. With the AFC Championship game in sight, the Jets were leading 20-10 against the Cleveland Browns late in the fourth quarter. However, Cleveland rallied to tie the game and send it into overtime where the Cleveland kicker Mark Mosely missed a chip shot field goal from 23 yards but would get another chance in the second overtime from 27 yards and connect ending the New York Jets season.

1987

A strange season in 1987 where a strike by the players caused the league to use replacement players for 3 games in the middle of the season. The chemistry of the team is messed up and the Jets collapse in December to finish 6-9.

1988

One of the all time great linebackers in National Football League history Mark Gastineau unexpectedly retires in the middle of the season and the Jets fail to make the playoffs. However, the Jets 27-21 victory over the New York Giants on the last game of the season kept the Giants from making the playoffs. In that game, Ken O’Brien threw a 5 yard touchdown pass to Al Toon with 37 seconds left in the game for the go ahead score that crushed the dreams of Giants fans.

1989

A tumultuous 4-12 season is remembered for the agony of the New York Jets fans. Watching their team get shutout at home several times, New York Jets fans chant, make signs, and plead with ownership to fire Head Coach Joe Walton. Fans get their wish and Joe Walton gets the pink slip.

1990

New Head Coach Bruce Coslet begins rebuilding the team by releasing some of the aging stars and focusing on the future of the team through the draft. Wide Receiver Rob Moore is the Jets first round draft pick and he catches 6 touchdowns during a 692 yard receiving rookie season. Jets finish 6-10.

1991

The Jets enter the last game of the season with a 7-8 record, but holding the tiebreaker over the Miami Dolphins the Jets still had a chance to make the playoffs if they could win the final game of the season against the Dolphins. The team’s best kicker in history Pat Leahy would sit out injured in this game but his clutch backup Raul Allegree kicked a 44 yard field goal to tie the game with time expiring in regulation. In the overtime, Raul Allegree again connects this time from 30 yards out to send the 8-8 Jets to the playoffs against the Houston Oilers. Houston is favored in the game but the Jets miss several opportunities in the second half and fall 17-10.

1992

The terrible 4-12 1992 season behind first year quarterback Browning Nagle is best remembered for the inspirational story of Defensive End Dennis Byrd. Dennis Byrd collided with teammate Scott Mersereau in a game which left him partially paralyzed. The initial diagnosis revealed that Byrd would never walk again but a great deal of individual effort and spinal cord surgery allowed Byrd to eventually walk again. The remarkable story of Dennis Byrd shows what hard work and a never quit attitude is all about.

1993

The Jets were 8-7 going into the final game of the season against the Houston Oilers, a win and the Jets would make the playoffs and a loss and they would be home watching the playoffs on tv. Unfortunately the Jets did not show up for the game and got shutout 24-0 and head coach Bruce Coslett is fired and defensive coordinator Pete Carroll takes over the team.

1994

Under Pete Carroll the Jets are hovering around .500 when a key game against the Miami Dolphins is played. Jets were winning by several scores when Hall of Famer Dan Marino got the Dolphins back into the game with a couple of touchdown passes. With 30 seconds left in the game Dan Marino was again driving in New York Jets territory. After a long completion Dan Marino ran to the line to spike the ball and stop the clock. However, Marino fake spiked the ball and instead turned to a wide open Mark Ingram for a lead changing touchdown. The loss sent the Jets into a tailspin as they lost all of their remaining games and Pete Carroll got fired.

1995

Head coach Richie Kotite leads the team to an embarrassing 3-13 record.

1996

New York Jets sign free agent quarterback Neil O’Donnell and select wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson with the number 1 overall draft pick. However, the Jets have their worst season in history winning only one game to finish 1-15. Coach Richie Kotite is fired.

1997

The Jets bring in the one coach who could turn the team around and get them back to respectability. That coach was Bill Parcells. The Jets get Parcells while he was the active coach for division rival New England and are forced to give them a few draft picks over the next couple of years. Regardless, Parcells immediately turns the team around and the Jets barely miss the playoffs by losing on the final regular season game against Detroit. Their 9-7 record is quite a turn around.

1998

Jets add running back Curtis Martin and quarterback Vinny Testaverde and they immediate help pay dividends as the Jets win their first division title since 1969 with a 12-4 record. The Jets met the Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional playoff round looking to go to the AFC Championship. The Jets take two large leads but Jacksonville comes back both times before the Jets pull away for good and win 34-24. Defending Superbowl Champions John Elway and the Denver Broncos were not going to be denied a return to the Superbowl during the AFC Championship. Behind Terrell Davis and Jets turnovers the Broncos came from behind to beat the NY Jets.

1999

The Jets hope to return to the playoffs takes a turn for the worst when Vinny Testaverde suffers a season ending leg injury and the Jets stumble out of the gate before quarterback Ray Lucas finishes the season strong for the Jets to get them back to .500 with and 8-8 record.

2000

A lot of changes to the Jets Organization. New ownership emerges as Robert Wood Johnson buys the team. He is the CEO of Johnson and Johnson. Coach Bill Parcells leaves. Bill Belicheck takes over but then changes his mind and begins coaching New England and the Jets get draft pick compensation. Al Groh becomes new head coach. Jets lose their last three games of the season and barely miss the playoffs finishing 9-7. The one memorable game is the Monday Night game against the Miami Dolphins. Known as the Monday Night Miracle the New York Jets erase a 23 point fourth quarter deficit to win in overtime on a John Hall field goal. The biggest come from behind win is later voted the greatest Monday Night Football game ever.

2001

A 10-6 record is highlighted by a win and your in the playoffs final regular season game against Oakland. The Jets kicker John Hall boots a 53 yard field goal that gives them a 24-22 victory and an opportunity to play a rematch against the Oakland raiders the following week in the wildcard playoff game. Oakland makes the necessary adjustments and cruise to a 38-24 win.

2002

Coach Herman Edwards leads the Jets to a unlikely AFC East division title with only a 9-7 record. After starting 1-4 this was remarkable and given the Jets needed to win their last two games and have help from several other games the final two weeks being decided favorably for the Jets. The Jets momentum which seemed to come from Herman Edwards decision to change quarterbacks from Vinny Testaverde to Chad Pennington carried into the postseason as they went to Indianapolis to face Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. A 41-0 blowout stunner put the Jets in the Divisional Playoffs against the Oakland Raiders and in a tight 10-10 game the Raiders finally stopped the Jets momentum during a second half surge winning 30-10.

2003

After the strong finish last season the Jets fans were excited coming into 2003 until Chad Pennington suffered a broken wrist in the postseason. Though he would come back mid-season the New York Jets had already gotten off to a poor start and finished the season 6-10.

2004

2004 was one of the Jets most up and down season. They started 5-0, lost a few, then were led by backup Quarterback Quincy Carter to three straight wins before losing 3 of their last 4 to finish 10-6. Helping the offense was Curtis Martin who had been they running back for the Jets for many years passed the 13,000 career rushing yards mark during a Rushing Title Winning season of 1,697 yards. A much improved defense was led by Defensive Rookie of the Year Jonathan Vilma with 105 tackles and 3 interceptions. The Jets were forced to travel to San Diego for the first round of the playoffs against the LaDainian Tomlinson led San Diego Chargers. Jets defense held LT in check and led the Jets to a 17-7 lead in the fourth quarter before the Chargers tied the game with 16 seconds left on a touchdown that sent the game to overtime. Chargers had the first scoring opportunity but missed on a 40 yard field goal and the Jets responded by getting into field goal position. The 47 yard field goal by Jets kicker Doug Brien marked the first road playoff win for the Jets in 22 years. On the road again in Pittsburgh the following week the Jets defense again played well including a Reggie Tounge 86 yard interception return for a touchdown against Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. In a tie game, Jets Kicker Doug Brien missed a 47 yard field goal with 1:58 left. Brien got a second chance as the Jets defense set up another opportunity as time expired from 43 yards. Steelers kicker Jeff Reed sent Pittsburgh to the AFC Championship game in overtime when he connected for a 33 yard field goal.

2005

A injury plagued season sent the Jets to a 4-12 season. Chad Pennington and backup quarterback Jay Fiedler were hurt in the same game and forced Vinny Testaverde to come back out of retirement. Curtis Martin also suffered a knee injury. At the end of the season Coach Herman Edwards would leave to coach the Kansas City Chiefs.

2006

The Jets went to highly sought after New England Patriots Defensive Coordinator Eric Mangini to be the next head coach. The Mangenious as he was nicknamed took the team to an impressive 10-6 record despite losing Curtis Martin who had to end his career on injured reserve. Fittingly the playoffs matched the Jets with the New England Patriots. They had split their two regular season games but the postseason match-up was all New England as they pulled away in the second half and won 37-16.

2007

4-12 season was not what the Jets had in mind. The only significant event that occurred was during opening day against the New England Patriots when Eric Mangini caught New England Head Coach Bill Belichick spying on his team by videotaping the Jets coaches on the sideline against league policy. The incident known as Spygate intensifies the rivalry between the two football teams.

2008

The 2008 New York Jets are led by Future Hall of Famer Brett Favre. After a fast start with an 8-3 record, the New York Jets fell apart down the stretch losing 4 of their final 5 games to finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs. To make matters worse castoff Chad Pennington led the Miami Dolphins turnaround as the Dolphins went 1-15 the previous season but now won the AFC East in 2008 compiling an 11 win season. After the season ended the Jets front office fired Eric Mangini and hired the Defensive Coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens Rex Ryan.

2009

The 2009 NY Jets are a totally overhauled with considerable talent in a tough division. New Head Coach Rex Ryan leads a reloaded defense while USC Quarterback Mark Sanchez takes the snaps under center. Explosive Leon Washington and talented Thomas Jones should find success running the ball and hopefully our receivers step up. The defense is loaded with some big name free agent signings. This sets up well for Coach Ryan who is best known for producing the best defensive schemes that made the Baltimore Ravens one of the top defenses for many years. The first game of the 2009 NFL season between the New York Jets and Houston Texans was a spectacular 24-7 road win for rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and rookie Head Coach Rex Ryan’s shut down defense.

The 2009 New York Jets advanced to the AFC Championship game after winning two road playoff games. Though the Jets lost the AFC Championship game to the Indianapolis Colts, the 2009 season was extremely exciting for Jets fans. The combination of the rookie head coach and rookie quarterback makes for a tandem that should improve after gaining valuable playoff experience. Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez and the Jets Defense made 2009 a season to remember.

2010

The 2010 Jets repeated the playoff run they made in 2009 by winning two road playoff games and then losing in the AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two playoff victories were memorable as the Jets ended the season of star Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and star New England quarterback Tom Brady. The Jets had some good wins during the regular season and entered the playoffs as a wild card. Ideally, the future Jets teams earn a home playoff game and better yet, a first round bye because two years in a row the Jets would have had to win 3 consecutive road playoff games to make it to the Superbowl.

2011

The 2011 New York Jets have Mark Sanchez, Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes, Revis Island, Antonio Cromartie, LT, Bart Scott and Rex Ryan. The first game of the season the New York Jets win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football was one of the most emotional sporting events in history, the tenth anniversary of 9-11. The season had ups and downs, but towards the end the Jets had control of their own destiny in back to back weeks near the end of the season but could not win either game. The New York Giants come from behind win over the Jets on Christmas Day catapulted the Giants to an improbable Superbowl run that climaxed with a tremendous win over the New England Patriots during which Eli Manning led a fourth quarter drive to put the Giants ahead for good while the Patriots dropped an uncharacteristic number of passes late in the championship game.

2012

The 2012 Jets team will have high expectations among Jets fans. The defense again should be very good, now only if the offense can find a way to play just a little bit like some of those high powered offenses.

The Jets history is history, it is time to hope that the future of the New York Jets will be now. Follow the Jets as they take off, fly over the United States, and land in time for the ticker tape parade.

J – E – T – S Jets! Jets! Jets!