A Basic History of the New York Jets Football Team

The New York Jets are a professional football team that plays in the National Football League. The Jets play in the East Division of the American Football Conference.

The franchise was founded in 1960 as the New York Titans, becoming a part of the Eastern Division of the American Football League. In 1963, the team changed its name to become the New York Jets.

In 1970, the New York Jets became a part of the National Football League as part of the AFL-NFL merger.

The New York Jets have won a total of four Division Championships in their franchise history. The Jets won the AFL East twice in 1968 and 1969, and they won the AFC East twice in 1998 and 2002. The Jets have not won an NFL Conference Championship, but the team did win Super Bowl III.

The franchise has played their home games in three different stadiums. From 1960-1963, the team played at the Polo Grounds. From 1964-1983, the Jets played their home games at Shea Stadium, which is still home to Major League Baseball's New York Mets. Since 1984, the Jets have shared their home stadium with the New York Giants. Although the stadium is called Giants Stadium, the Jets use the name The Meadowlands for the stadium.

Five former members of the New York Jets are currently enshrined in the National Football Hall of Fame. They are Weeb Ewbank, Don Maynard, Joe Namath, John Riggins, and Ronnie Lott. Ewbank was the coach of the New York Jets when they won their only Super Bowl.

Three numbers have been retired by the New York Jets. The three players whose jersey numbers have been retired are Joe Namath - 12, Don Maynard - 13, and Joe Klecko - 73. A picture of a jacket replaces a jersey number in honor of former coach Weeb Ewbank. Dennis Byrd's number 90 has not been retired by the Jets, but it has not been worn by another player since he suffered a terrible, career-ending injury during the 1992 season.

Some other former fan favorites for the Jets include Jerome Barkum, Greg Buttle, Wayne Chrebet, Mark Gastineau, and Bruce Harper.

Some famous former coaches of the New York Jets include Lou Holtz, known for his time at Notre Dame, the current USC coach Pete Carroll, and Bill Parcells, who had earlier in his career led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl victories.

The New York Jets are currently owned by Woody Johnson. The head coach is Eric Mangini and the general manager is Mike Tannenbaum. The official colors of the Jets are hunter green and white.