ONE
When the AFL was formed in 1959, the league decided that Harry Wismer would be allowed to operate his own team in New York - which he named ‘The Titans of New York’- before playing their first regular season game in 1960. However, both Wismer and New York faced extensive financial difficulties in the first few years of the franchise’s existence - with the team struggling to build a consistent fan base. Wismer couldn’t hold on for much longer, and in 1963, a five-man ownership group headed by Sonny Werblin purchased the team for $1 million.
Titans of New York Logo
TWO
The new owners of the Titans of New York immediately got to work. After hiring two-time NFL Championship-winning head coach Weeb Ewbank in 1963 and moving the team to Shea Stadium in 1964, the owners changed the team’s name to the New York Jets - due to Shea Stadium being located next to LaGuardia Airport. In 1965, quarterback Joe Namath was drafted both first overall by the Jets in the AFL, and 12th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the NFL - prompting a bidding war for the quarterback’s services. In the end, New York were successful in signing Namath to an extraordinary $400,000 contract. ‘Broadway Joe’ soon became a superstar in the ‘Big Apple’ - dazzling fans both on and off the field. Namath’s signing escalated the rivalry between the AFL and the NFL, but as the two leagues merged, many still looked down on the AFL - viewing the NFL as the superior league. Enter Broadway Joe and his New York Jets.
Joe Namath, Quarterback 1965-1976
THREE
In the 1968 season, the Jets advanced to Super Bowl III - the first of the AFL-NFL Championship Games to officially bear the title, ‘Super Bowl’. Standing between them and Super Bowl glory were heavy favourites, the Baltimore Colts. The Jets were insulted by the nation’s disrespect toward them and the AFL - with emotions boiling over when Joe Namath visited the Miami Touchdown Club ahead of the game. Provoked by a heckingly Colts fan, Namath exclaimed that the Jets were no match for the Colts and famously said: “We're going to win the game. I guarantee it.” On Super Bowl Sunday, Namath delivered - leading New York to a 16-7 victory and claiming theSuper Bowl MVP award. With one of the greatest upsets in league history complete, the AFL were finally viewed as a legitimate conference.
Joe Namath with the 1969 World Professional Football Championship trophy
FOUR
New York’s victory in Super Bowl III would be their last playoff win until the 1982 season, with the team severely declining in the seventies. Weeb Ewbank left after the 1973 season and in 1977, after suffering with numerous knee injuries, Joe Namath was released - signing with the Los Angeles Rams, where he played his final season before retiring. In the 1981 season, New York finally returned to the playoffs - championing a defensive line nicknamed the ‘New York Sack Exchange’ and led by Hall of Famer, Joe Klecko. The following season, New York reached the AFC Championship Game, but fell just short of Super Bowl XVII after losing 14-0 to the Miami Dolphins.
Joe Klecko, Defensive Tackle 1977-1987
FIVE
Desperate for a franchise quarterback in the 1983 NFL Draft, the Jets selected Ken O’Brien - choosing to pass on future Hall of Famer Dan Marino, who landed with division rivals, the Miami Dolphins. The Jets went on to make the playoffs on three different occasions before selecting wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson with the first overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. The Jets then hired two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, Bill Parcells, a year later. After a 9-7 debut season for Parcells, the signing of Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin, took the team to the next level - as they finished the 1998 season with a 12-4 record and fell just one game short of the Super Bowl. After missing the playoffs the following season, Parcells retired - handing the keys over to his former defensive coordinator in New York, Bill Belichick. However, In what was supposed to be his introductory press conference, Belichick wrote on a small piece of paper: “I resign as HC of the NYJ” - quickly signing on as head coach of the New England Patriots instead.
Curtis Martin, Running Back 1998-2006
SIX
Al Groh stepped in to lead the team to a 9-7 record in the 2000 season after trading away Keyshawn Johnson at the start of the year and drafting quarterback Chad Pennington. The team made the playoffs four times in the next eight years before Pennington was released following the 2007 season - as the Jets traded for Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre who gave them just one injury-riddled season. After 22 years as an assistant coach, Rex Ryan joined the New York Jets as head coach in 2009. Ryan kicked off his tenure with the Jets by drafting USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
New York Jets Fans
SEVEN
After helping the Jets earn a playoff berth in the 2009 season, hopes were high for Mark Sanchez. That said, the team’s success was largely thanks to Rex Ryan’s unique approach to defense that ranked amongst the league’s best. With shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis headlining this defensive juggernaut, New York reached the AFC Championship game for just the fourth time in team history - losing to the Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts.. Ryan’s Jets bounced back the next season - again reaching the AFC Championship Game only to agonisingly lose to Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Darrelle Revis, Cornerback 2007-2012, 2015-2016
EIGHT
With back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances, New York appeared to be on the brink of their first Super Bowl appearance since Joe Namath’s “guarantee”. But the 2011 season was an almighty disappointment, as the Jets missed the playoffs completely. Before the 2012 season, Ryan brought in quarterback Tim Tebow to compete with the stuttering Mark Sanchez, who had regressed notably over the last few seasons. Sanchez was released in early 2014, and Ryan was fired in December of that same year. New York hired Todd Bowles as their next head coach, but he failed to make the postseason in all four of seasons at the helm - despite drafting quarterback Sam Darnold third overall in 2018.
Sam Darnold, Quarterback 2018-2020
NINE
Adam Gase took over as the Jets head coach in 2019 - but he lasted just two seasons after an enormous $53 million contract to Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell prompted immediate buyer's remorse. Gase’s replacement came in the form of highly-coveted San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh. However, after the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, quarterback Zach Wilson, proved to be one of the biggest ‘busts’ of the last 10 years - Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas instigated a complete rebuild. With young stars like defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, cornerback Sauce Gardner, receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall now forming the core of the roster, the 2022 New York Jets appeared to be just a quarterback away from dominating the AFC East. Ahead of the 2023 season, the Jets made headlines when they traded for one of the best quarterbacks of all time - acquiring four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. However, in a moment that stunned the football world, Aaron Rodgers tore his achilles just four snaps into the 2023 season - resulting in the Jets tying the record for the longest active playoff drought in professional American sports. With Rodgers returning to full fitness in 2024, New York are all-in on lifting their first Super Bowl since 1969.
Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback 2023-Present
BEFORE YOU GO
Before their move to Giants Stadium in New Jersey in 1984, the scoreboard at the team’s final home game at Shea Stadium read “N.J Jets” acknowledging their move out of the city.
Eventually, the New York Giants and Jets agreed to build a new stadium with MetLife Stadium opened in 2010 and cost $1.6 billion to build - with a maximum capacity of 82,500 making it the largest stadium in the NFL.
Fireman Ed is one of the Jets’ most iconic fans. A former 911 firefighter, Fireman Ed leads the chants at every home game - emphatically waving his Jets-themed fireman hat.
