NFL Team History: The New York Jets

Despite the fact that the New York community already had a successful franchise in the National Football League, the New York Giants, the American Football League granted New York another franchise on August 14, 1959. Harry Wismer was the engineer of the franchise, which was initially known as the New York Titans.

Titans owner Harry Wismer hired Sammy Baugh to be the first head coach of the franchise. As the opening AFL season commenced, Polo Grounds became the home field for the New York Titans. In fact, their opening game held at Polo Grounds resulted in a 27-3 victory over the inner-state rivals, the Buffalo Bills. The Titans broke even in the win-loss column in 1960 as they posted a 7-7 record.

In 1961, the Titans completed the season with a 7-7 record. However, the 1962 AFL season was inundated with disappointment as they encountered their worst record of 5-9 in their three-year tenure as an AFL franchise. Not only were they losing more often than winning, but they had trouble filling the seats at their home games. The organization nearly went bankrupt following the 1962 season.

On March 15, 1963, Sonny Werbin, Leon Hess, and a group of investors acquired the franchise from Harry Wismer. With the change in ownership, the team name was changed from the Titans to the Jets. Futhermore, the team colors were altered from their blue and gold garb to green and white. A year later, the Jets moved from the dated Polo Grounds and began playing their home games at the newer Shea Stadium.

The Jets hired the venerated Weeb Ewbank as the new head coach of the team. Ewbank had previously guided the Baltimore Colts to NFL Championships in 1958 and 1959.

In 1965, the Jets signed quarterback Joe Namath out of the University of Alabama. Namath had elected to play for the Jets instead of the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals. With the Joe Namath acquisition, the move to Shea Stadium, and the recent struggles of the NFL's New York Giants, the Jets were materializing as the New York community's more appealing team.

In 1967, the Jets recorded their first winning season with an 8-5-1 record. Moreover, they set an attendance record in with 437,036 spectators. In 1968, the Jets would enter into the zenith of the franchise's history.

The Jets became the 1968 AFL Champions by defeating the Oakland Raiders by a score of 27-23. The AFL Championship earned the Jets a shot at Super Bowl glory. However, the Jets confronted the overwhelmingly favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Despite the fact that they were perceived as the underdogs, the Jets maintained confidence, particularly Joe Namath as he impudently stated "We're gonna win the game. I guarantee it." Although few in the media believed that Namath and the Jets would not live up to the bold prediction, they accomplished what has been considered as one of the biggest upsets in sports history as they defeated the Colts 16-7. The Super Bowl triumph not only put the Jets on the professional football map, but it also validated that the AFL can contend with the perceived superior NFL.

The Jets reached the AFL Championship Game in 1969 but were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs.

Following the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, the Jets began a downward spiral. They were featured in the first ever Monday Night Game, but suffered a 31-21 loss to the Cleveland Browns in front of the primetime national audience. Additionally, Joe Namath would suffer a season-ending wrist injury that would become a nuisance for the Jets throughout the remainder of the 1970 season. Namath continued to be injury prone throughout the following season as well.

Following a disappointing season in 1973, coach Ewbank retired from the NFL. Three years later, the Jets released their most heralded player to date, Joe Namath. The Jets would fail to clinch a single post-season berth throughout the remainder of the 1970's.

In 1981, the Jets composed a record of 10-5-1. The winning season prompted the first playoff appearance for the Jets since 1969. Nevertheless, they were defeated by the Buffalo Bills in the post-season match-up.

In 1982, the Jets reached the AFC Championship Game in Miami against the Miami Dolphins. This was the first league or conference championship game for the Jets since 1969. The Jets superb season ended with a 14-0 shutout courtesy of their division rivals.

The Jets would encounter losing seasons in 1983 and 1984; however, they bounced back in 1985 with a record of 11-5 and clinched a playoff berth. They hosted their first post-season event since 1969. Consequently, Jets fans would leave The Meadowlands disappointed as their team was defeated by the New England Patriots by a score of 26-14.

The Jets moved to Giants Stadium, or The Meadowlands, in 1984. They now shared the home field with the New York Giants.

The Jets clinched another playoff spot in 1986; however, a loss to the Cleveland Browns was the result. They would not appear in the NFL post-season again until the 1991 season when their playoff run was spoiled by the Houston Oilers.

The 1992 season marked the beginning of a post-season drought, but more significantly, the season was marred by the paralyzing injury to their defensive lineman Dennis Byrd. After months of recuperation, Dennis Byrd would walk again; however, he would never play professional football again.

Following the 1996 season when the Jets posted a dreadful 1-15 record, the franchise would initiate some personnel changes, as they hired former New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells to assume head coaching duties. Parcells led the Giants to Super Bowl triumphs in 1986 and 1990, and the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl the previous season in 1996.

The Jets improved to 9-7 in 1997, an eight game difference. In 1998, the Jets won the AFC Eastern Division with a record of 12-4. Hence, their seven-year playoff drought was put to rest. For the first time since 1982, the Jets would appear in the AFC championship game. They faced the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship showdown. However, the Broncos proved to be too much for the Jets to handle as they lost by a score of 23-10.

Prior to the 1999 season, Jets long-time owner Leon Hess passed away, and the franchise was assumed by Woody Johnson. Parcells would resign from his head coaching position, but remain as Chief of Football Operations. Following the season, Parcells would leave the New York Jets organization. Herman Edwards became the head coach in 2001. Under Edwards' leadership, the Jets returned to the post-season in 2001 and 2002, but lost both years to the Oakland Raiders.

The Jets would miss the playoffs in 2003, but returned in 2004. They defeated the San Diego Chargers 17-10 on the Chargers home turf. The victory set a match-up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who ended the season with a remarkable 15-1 record. The underdog Jets put a good fight, but ultimately, they would lose in overtime.

Following the 2005 season, head coach Edwards left the Jets organization to coach the Kansas City Chiefs. Eric Mangini was hired as his replacement.

In 2006, the New York Jets clinched the post-season, but would suffer a 37-16 defeat to the New England Patriots.