The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League (USFL) established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983 to 1985, winning 31 regular season games and losing 25 while going 0–2 in postseason competition. Home games were played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey , which was called The Meadowlands for Generals games.
101-490: Team colors were scarlet, white, royal blue and sunflower gold. The primary logo was a gold five-star general wreath. Team helmets were solid scarlet with the logo decal on each side and a white face-mask. Home uniforms featured red jerseys with white numbers trimmed in royal blue, with numbers on the sleeves and no striping; pants were white with a single wide red stripe trimmed in blue down the sides from hip to knee. Road jerseys were white with red numbers trimmed in blue. The team
202-408: A "NEW YORK" wordmark on the upper chest, and a new sans-serif block-style numeral font. The primary logo reverted to a football shape, and eliminated the background "NY" initials in favor of "NEW YORK" in sans-serif italics above "JETS," which was modified to make the "J" the same height as the other letters and moved slightly downward, with the revised football graphic now covering the lower portion of
303-725: A 12–8–12 record, they again failed to qualify for postseason play . A highlight of the 1968 season occurred on July 12, when the Generals hosted Santos FC in an exhibition match at Yankee Stadium. The game, a 5–3 win for the Generals, is notable for featuring Pelé , who would later become a player in the NASL when he joined the New York Cosmos in 1975. Following the 1968 season, the NASL experienced severe hardships as their television contract with CBS expired and multiple teams folded. Famous tennis star Eugene Scott , who had been
404-563: A 50% share of the venue. The rivalry regained much of its tension in the 2011 NFL season when the Jets and Giants met in Week 16. Both teams needed a victory to keep their playoffs hope alive and there was significant trash talk between Rex Ryan and his players and many of the Giants in the weeks leading up to the game. Ryan and Giants running back Brandon Jacobs reportedly came close to blows after
505-564: A 6–12 record. This was largely due to a porous defense which gave up the third-most points in the league (437) and a feeble passing attack led by ex- New Orleans Saints career backup Bobby Scott . At 66 years old, Duncan soon tired of flying as far as 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from his home in Oklahoma City to see his team play. Believing that the Generals were far too important to the USFL to have an absentee owner, he decided to sell to
606-498: A 8–8 season in 2013. After a 4–12 season in 2014, Sanchez was released, while Ryan and general manager John Idzik were fired. Prior to the 2015 season, Todd Bowles was hired to replace Ryan as head coach. In his first season, he led the Jets to a 10–6 record that finished second in the AFC East but failed to qualify for the postseason. However, the Jets followed up the 2015 season with three consecutive last place finishes in
707-586: A broken collarbone against the Memphis Showboats in the season's 15th game, sidelining him for the rest of the season. The 1985 Generals finished 11–7 behind Walker's pro-football record 2,411 rushing yards but lost again to the Stars (transplanted to Baltimore ) in the first round of the playoffs, 20–17. Sources Almost from the moment he bought the Generals, Trump sought to use them as a vehicle to get an NFL team. To this end, he began advocating moving
808-727: A conference championship since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970, along with the Cleveland Browns , Detroit Lions , and two expansion franchises, the Jacksonville Jaguars (who began play in 1995) and the Houston Texans (2002). Since 1970 the Jets have won the AFC Eastern Division only twice, in 1998 and 2002 , the fewest division titles among NFL teams in the post-merger era. They have qualified for
909-639: A darker hunter green replacing the bright kelly green, and the primary logo now oval rather than football-shaped and updated with starker lines. Green pants and striped white socks were added in 2002, and were worn with both the white and green jerseys. In 2007 , the Jets introduced a new "throwback" uniform evoking the original Titans of New York and combining elements of the 1960 and 1961–62 uniforms, with navy blue helmets and jerseys, old gold numerals and helmet stripes, gold and white shoulder stripes, and gold pants with blue and white stripes on each side. These uniforms appeared again in 2008 , 2009 and 2011 , with
1010-594: A director of the Generals, was appointed temporary chairman of the NASL. However, the following year, Phil Woosnam was appointed NASL commissioner and announced plans for a truncated 1969 season that would feature teams from the United Kingdom playing as stand-ins for their American counterparts. Following this, Scott left and the Generals soon after folded. The Generals became defunct in February 1969. New York City would remain without an NASL franchise until
1111-548: A five-man syndicate headed by Sonny Werblin of the Gotham Football Club, Inc., in February 1963. Sonny Werblin graduated from Rutgers University and was employed by the Music Corporation of America , eventually becoming president of the company's television division. With a vast knowledge of media, Werblin was determined to put the spotlight on the team. His first order of business, after changing
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#17327731141811212-533: A local buyer. After the 1983 season, he found one in Donald Trump, who had initially angled for the franchise in 1982 before backing out. Trump promptly fired Fairbanks. Seeking a high-profile coach, he initially tried to lure Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins . When those talks failed, he turned to legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula . Trump offered him a $ 5 million contract. Shula
1313-551: A minority partner; Duncan knew Fairbanks from his days as head coach at the University of Oklahoma . Fairbanks also served as general manager and head coach. They initially had an uphill battle to get a lease at Giants Stadium, but were able to obtain one on condition that they brand their team as "New Jersey" rather than "New York." They named the team the "Generals" after the large number of generals based in New Jersey during
1414-547: A new 80,000-seat "Trump Stadium" in Manhattan; the stadium never came to fruition. In 1984, Trump convinced most of his fellow owners to move to a fall schedule in 1986. He contended that if the USFL were to hold its own against the NFL, it would eventually force a merger with the more established league—in which the owners of any USFL teams included in a merger would see their investment more than double. The Generals acquired
1515-421: A passion for sports according to former Knicks general manager Ernie Grunfeld and desired to own his own team. Johnson has been considered to be an enabler who wants the best from his employees. Much like Hess, Johnson left many of the football related decisions up to his management team and tended to avoid the spotlight. However, upon hiring head coach Rex Ryan, Johnson had an increased presence as he molded
1616-603: A place for the team to play their home games but was only able to secure the dilapidated Polo Grounds , which had not had a major tenant since the baseball New York Giants vacated the stadium in 1957. The Titans played their first four seasons at the stadium—in the final season they were renamed the Jets. The Titans shared the stadium with baseball's new expansion team, the New York Mets , for two years before both teams moved to Shea Stadium in Queens in 1964. The Jets hold
1717-741: A professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area . The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The Jets play their home games at MetLife Stadium (which they share with the New York Giants ) in East Rutherford, New Jersey , 5 miles (8.0 km) west of New York City . The team
1818-423: A silhouette of a modern jet airplane extending horizontally to the right from the top of the "J" above the "ETS." The jerseys featured large TV numerals on the shoulders and two thick parallel stripes on the sleeves, while the pants had a single green stripe from hip to knee on each side. In 1990 the Jets modified this design by adding thin black outlines to the numerals, lettering, stripes, and helmet decals, changing
1919-574: A single gold stripe down the center and no logo decals. The white jerseys had navy blue numerals. In 1961, the Titans added UCLA -style shoulder stripes (gold and white on the blue jerseys, gold and navy blue on the white jerseys), changed the pants striping to a blue stripe flanked by white stripes, and employed a somewhat brighter shade of gold. When the Titans became the Jets in 1963, navy and gold were abandoned in favor of kelly green and white. The jerseys had opposite-colored sleeves with thick stripes on
2020-410: A state of mediocrity along with their star quarterback, Namath, who only had three successful post-merger seasons after injuries hampered much of his career. The Jets continued to spiral downward before enjoying a string of successes in the 1980s, which included an appearance in the 1982 AFC Championship Game, and the emergence of the popular New York Sack Exchange . Walt Michaels and Joe Walton coached
2121-438: A three-year personal-services contract with Duncan. The contract was valued at $ 4.2 million—more than double the USFL's salary cap of $ 1.8 million. Nonetheless, the other owners knew having the incumbent Heisman winner in their fold would lend the USFL instant credibility, and allowed the contract to stand. Despite the signing of Walker, who rushed for 1,812 yards and 17 touchdowns, the Generals finished their inaugural season with
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#17327731141812222-557: A white-jersey variation also appearing in 2009 as part of the NFL's celebration of the American Football League 's 50th anniversary. The Jets abandoned their classic look for a second time in 2019, with a new uniform design featuring a medium shade of green which the franchise calls "Gotham Green," reincorporating black as a third/trim color, and reverting to green helmets with a metallic paint finish and black facemasks. The jerseys and pants now had tapered striping,
2323-451: A white-outlined version of the 1965–77 logo decal. In 1994 , as part of the NFL 's 75th Anniversary celebration, the Jets wore both home and road versions of this uniform in select games, again using their regular green helmets with the 1965–77 logo but with two parallel white stripes down the center. The Jets adopted a new uniform and logo design in 1998, a modernization of the 1965–77 set with
2424-497: A year during the month of September at the Giants' new home in New Jersey, Giants Stadium . Litigation began between New York City and the Jets over the issue, and in the lawsuit's settlement, the city agreed to allow the Jets to play two September home games a season at Shea beginning in 1978 for the remaining six years in the Jets' lease. In 1977, the Jets were to play one September game at Giants Stadium and an October 2 game at Shea. In spite of these issues, majority owner Leon Hess
2525-626: Is headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey . The franchise is legally organized as a limited liability company under the name New York Jets, LLC. The team was founded in 1959 as the Titans of New York , a charter member of the American Football League (AFL); the franchise joined the NFL in the AFL–NFL merger in 1970 . The team began play in 1960 at the Polo Grounds in upper Manhattan,
2626-517: Is hosting a game, opened in April 2010 and saw the Jets and Giants open the stadium together in a preseason exhibition game. The Jets' first regular season home game at the new stadium was held on September 13, 2010, and was shown nationwide on Monday Night Football . New York lost to the Ravens 10–9. Team owners voted to have the stadium host Super Bowl XLVIII , held in 2014. Since the inception of
2727-772: The Canadian Football League ; Hull (with Gambler quarterback Kelly) played in four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills , and Flutie was the last quarterback to have led the Bills to the NFL playoffs until the 2017 season. New York Generals The New York Generals were an American professional soccer team based in New York City that competed in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in 1967 and
2828-708: The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority where he helped to create the Meadowlands Sports Complex, including Giants Stadium. Leon Hess became well known for his Hess Corporation gas stations; however, he also played an instrumental part in the development of the Jets during his tenure as co-owner and eventual sole owner. Hess had often fought for improvements while the team was a tenant at Shea Stadium but generally stayed away from football operations, allowing his coaches and general manager to make football-related decisions. Becoming
2929-570: The New York Rangers ' 54-year drought (from 1940 to 1994) in 2023. The first organizational meeting of the American Football League took place on August 14, 1959. Harry Wismer , representing the city of New York at the meeting, proclaimed the state was ready for another professional football team and that he was more than capable of running the daily operations. Wismer was granted the charter franchise later dubbed
3030-684: The North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1968. Founded as charter members of the NPSL, the team was owned by RKO General and Wall Street investor Peter Elser and played their home games at Yankee Stadium . Following the NPSL's merger with the United Soccer Association to form the NASL in 1968, the Generals became the sole professional soccer team in New York City. The Generals played on season in
3131-715: The United Soccer Association (USA) to form the North American Soccer League (NASL). Following the merger, the New York Skyliners of the USA folded, making the New York Generals the sole major soccer team in New York City. While the two teams were initially planned to merge into one team, Peter Elser (who had become the Generals' sole owner following RKO General's withdrawal in January 1968) opted against this plan and continued to recruit partners and players for
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3232-408: The University of Florida and Michigan State University before a knee injury ended his playing career. Undeterred, Wismer began his career as a broadcaster with Michigan State and became a pioneer of the industry. Later, as the Titans owner, Wismer formulated a league-wide policy which allowed broadcasting rights to be shared equally among the teams. Wismer, who had previously had a 25% stake in
3333-465: The Washington Redskins , was interested in the American Football League and was given a franchise to develop in New York. Wismer, whose philosophy was who you knew mattered most, tried to make the team and the league a success. His efforts began to accrue debt as the Titans' first two seasons were mediocre with attendance dropping in the team's second year. The franchise was sold for $ 1 million to
3434-525: The wild card round ; the Patriots went on to Super Bowl XX where they were defeated by the Bears . The rivalry began to escalate and receive increased media attention in 1997 when a disgruntled Bill Parcells vacated his head coaching position with New England to accept the same position with New York Jets. The following year, the Jets signed Pro Bowl running back Curtis Martin from the Patriots. After
3535-463: The 1971 season, when the New York Cosmos began play. The Cosmos would share a gold and green color scheme with the Generals and played their home games at the Generals' former home venue, Yankee Stadium. Furthermore, former Generals player Gordon Bradley served as the Cosmos' first head coach. New York Jets National Football League ( 1970 –present) The New York Jets are
3636-422: The 1978–89 design in most respects, although the "Gotham Green" shade and metallic-finish helmet shells were carried over and the set includes a green pants option; the black alternates apply the same color scheme as the outgoing set to the new template. The Jets also released a "classic" white uniform which is based on the 1965–77 and 1998–2018 uniform. The original Jets Flag Crew was established in 2006. In 2007,
3737-468: The 2023 season, the Jets once again finished 7–10 in a season that started hopeful with the signing of Aaron Rodgers, who later suffered a season-ending Achilles tear on the first offensive series of the regular season. Harry Wismer , a businessman, had been interested in sports for much of his life when he was granted a charter franchise in the American Football League. Wismer was a three-sport letterman in high school, and went on to play football for
3838-402: The AFC East from 2016 to 2018, winning no more than five games each season. Bowles was fired following the third consecutive losing season. The Jets used their first round pick, third overall, on quarterback Sam Darnold from USC. Adam Gase was hired to replace Bowles prior to the 2019 season. Gase's tenure saw the Jets go 7–9 in 2019 and 2–14 in 2020, missing the postseason both years. Gase
3939-726: The AFL playoffs for the first time in 1968 and went on to compete in Super Bowl III where they defeated the Baltimore Colts , becoming the first AFL team to defeat an NFL club in an AFL–NFL World Championship Game . However, the Jets have never returned to the Super Bowl, making them one of two NFL teams to win their lone Super Bowl appearance along with the New Orleans Saints , and one of five teams never to win
4040-532: The AFL to assume the costs of the team until season's end. A five-man syndicate, headed by Sonny Werblin , saved the team from certain bankruptcy, purchasing the lowly Titans for $ 1 million in 1963. Werblin renamed the team the New York Jets since the team would play near LaGuardia Airport and because it rhymed with the New York Mets as they would be playing in Shea Stadium . The new name
4141-551: The American Football League, the Jets have maintained what is considered to be a marquee rivalry with the New England Patriots . The rivalry was relatively docile in its early years until 1966 when the Jets removed the Patriots, who had hopes of appearing in Super Bowl I , from playoff contention with a 38–28 defeat at Shea Stadium. The Patriots returned the favor in 1985 when the Jets lost to New England 26–14 in
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4242-512: The Buffalo Bills the only objectors, to award the 2010 Super Bowl to New York contingent on the Jets winning the bid and completing construction of the stadium prior to 2010. The MTA unanimously voted to sell the land to the Jets for approximately $ 210 million as the committee agreed that having the stadium would be beneficial in the long run. An angry Cablevision, community groups and transportation advocates were determined to derail
4343-530: The Dolphins ran the Fake Spike play , giving them an improbable victory and halting the Jets' momentum that season, serving as a precursor to the Jets' next two unsuccessful years under Rich Kotite. The Jets went on to complete an improbable victory of their own on October 23, 2000, in what is known as The Monday Night Miracle . The Jets, trailing the Dolphins 30–7 at the end of the third quarter, rallied in
4444-675: The Gamblers' high-powered run and shoot offense with him. Fans immediately dubbed the Kelly–Walker led Generals as the USFL's "Dream Team." However, the revamped Generals never played a down. The 1986 season was cancelled after the USFL won only a nominal one dollar verdict in an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL (which was trebled to three dollars due to it being an antitrust suit); the league folded soon afterward. Numerous Generals players, including Flutie, Walker, and center Kent Hull went on to productive NFL careers. Flutie also starred in
4545-578: The Generals went 14–4, defeating the eventual champion Philadelphia Stars twice for that franchise's only two losses of the season. The Stars defeated the Generals 28–7 in a first round playoff game. Sources The 1985 season saw the heralded signing of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Doug Flutie of Boston College . Despite Flutie's inexperience, the Generals traded Sipe to the Jacksonville Bulls to ensure Flutie would start. Flutie struggled at times but played well overall until he suffered
4646-541: The Generals. Prior to the 1968 season, Gordon Bradley was hired as a player and assistant coach. Bradley had been brought to the attention of the Generals because of his experience as coach and player on the New York Ukrainians . Co Prins also joined the team following the folding of the Pittsburgh Phantoms , which he had been a member of the previous year. While the Generals improved to
4747-432: The Giants in 1988 for the final game of the regular season. The Jets, with a 7–7–1 record, had little to lose as their hopes for playoff contention had vanished. The 10–5 Giants were fighting for a playoff spot, and a victory would have clinched a division title and playoff berth. Although the six point favorites, the Giants were unable to overcome a Jets defense that sacked their quarterback Phil Simms eight times. With
4848-419: The Giants, who had the authority to approve the change, refused. In an effort to conceal the fact that they played in a stadium built and decorated for another team, the stadium grounds crew was assigned to make the stadium more Jet-friendly during Jets games by putting up green banners and placing the Jets' logo over the Giants'. No change could be made to the blue and red seating bowl. The Jets were featured in
4949-528: The Jets announced their intention to depart for New Jersey. On December 10, 1983, the Jets played their final game at Shea and lost to the Steelers 34–7. As fans pillaged the stadium for mementos, the scoreboard read "N.J. Jets" in reference to the Jets' departure to the Meadowlands. When the Jets joined the Giants at the stadium, many Jets fans hoped the name, Giants Stadium, would be changed. However,
5050-533: The Jets as their head coach. Under Mangini, the infamous Spygate incident took place, further escalating tensions between both clubs. When Rex Ryan was hired as the team's head coach, the rivalry further escalated due to an increased war of words between both teams. In January 2011, the two met in a Divisional Round playoff game. The visiting Jets pulled a 28–21 upset to advance to the AFC Championship Game, which they ultimately lost one week later to
5151-429: The Jets declined during Parcells' third year, Parcells decided to resign as head coach. His assistant, Bill Belichick , was installed as the new head coach but suddenly resigned the next day at a press conference, just one day after accepting the position, to become the new head coach of the Patriots instead. His decision was influenced by the passing of the team owner, Leon Hess , before the '99 season, who at one point
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#17327731141815252-531: The Jets into his team. In 2017, Woody Johnson was appointed by President Donald Trump as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom . Once his post was confirmed, his brother Christopher Johnson became a co-owner and took over the day-to-day operations for the team, including personnel decisions. Woody Johnson's term as ambassador ended in 2021, and he took over ownership duties from Christopher. Owner Harry Wismer sought out
5353-455: The Jets introduced a "legacy white" throwback uniform resembling the 1978–89 design, then announced at the end of the season that this would become the team's primary uniform in 2024, with green and black versions added to complete the set. For this rebrand the 1978 "JETS" logo was slightly modified to condense the spacing between the letters, and to widen the tail and streamline the nose of the jet-plane silhouette. The primary uniforms resemble
5454-570: The Jets to search for a new head coach. Hess lured then-disgruntled New England Patriots head coach Bill Parcells to New York in 1997. Parcells led the team back to relevance and coached them to the AFC Championship Game in 1998. Hess died in 1999 while the team, plagued by injuries, produced an eight win record, falling short of a playoff berth. At the end of the season, Parcells stepped down as head coach deferring control to his assistant, Bill Belichick ; Belichick resigned
5555-413: The Jets' attempts at building the stadium and two lawsuits challenging the construction of the stadium on environmental grounds were filed. Although confident they could secure the stadium, their hopes were dashed when Sheldon Silver and Joseph L. Bruno , both of whom held veto power over the stadium construction, refused to support the project, alleging it would hurt rather than help the development of
5656-461: The Jets' victory and wins by the Rams and Eagles , the Giants were eliminated from playoff contention and the Jets gained respect in the eyes of many. In spite of the big sibling rivalry that has resulted in trash talk between the players, both teams have formed an unexpected and consequently strong partnership sharing Giants Stadium for 26 years and MetLife Stadium, a venture in which both teams own
5757-484: The Jets, and J. P. Losman of the Bills. However, in recent years, the series has heated up again due to a friendly rivalry between quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Josh Allen , who were selected in the first round of the 2018 draft. As of the 2023 season, the Bills lead the all-time series 69–58. New York has maintained a rivalry with the Miami Dolphins since the Dolphins' inception in 1966. The lone tie in
5858-473: The Jets, tripped Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll . Carroll was not seriously injured and Alosi resigned nearly two months later. As of the 2023 season, the Miami Dolphins lead the all-time series, 60–56–1. The New York Jets previously maintained a high tension rivalry against their in-town counterparts, the New York Giants , that has since diminished due to the infrequency of the teams meeting in
5959-468: The Mets would have exclusive use of the stadium until they had completed their season. As the team moved to Shea under new ownership, they were, in most years, required to open the season with several road games, a problem made worse in 1969 and 1973 when the Mets had long playoff runs. Feeling that this arrangement put the Jets at a disadvantage, the team announced in 1977 that they would play two home games
6060-468: The NASL before folding after the 1968 season . The New York Cosmos , founded in 1970, would take the Generals place as New York City's professional soccer team and shared both the Generals' colors and home stadium. From the founding of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), New York City was considered was considered a market of immense importance to the league. According to soccer historian David Wagner, New York City's "hugely influential media
6161-609: The NFL and AFL merged. The first meeting between the two teams saw the New York Titans, later the Jets, defeat the Bills 27–3. Aside from a few notable moments, such as O. J. Simpson breaking an NFL rushing record against the Jets, the lone playoff game in the series between the two teams in the 1981 Wild Card Round , and ex-Jets coach Rex Ryan coaching the Bills for two years, the rivalry has otherwise been characterized by shared mediocrity and uncompetitive games, including notable blunders by quarterbacks Mark Sanchez of
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#17327731141816262-594: The Pittsburgh Steelers. As of the 2023 season, the Patriots lead the all-time series 74–55–1. The Jets and the Bills represent the same state (although the Jets play in New Jersey), and this rivalry represents the differences between New York City and Upstate New York . The teams are both charter members of the American Football League and have generally stayed in the same division since, even after
6363-511: The Revolutionary War. The team made a big splash by signing Heisman Trophy -winning underclassman Herschel Walker , a running back from the University of Georgia . While the USFL had followed the NFL's lead in banning underclassmen from playing, league officials were certain that this rule would never withstand a court challenge. In an even more ominous development, Walker did not sign a standard player contract. Rather, he agreed to
6464-463: The Super Bowl. He did not live to see his dream realized, dying on May 7, 1999. With the team for sale, two potential buyers were found in Cablevision and billionaire heir Woody Johnson , whose grandfather Robert Wood Johnson II founded Johnson & Johnson . Johnson was unknown among the other NFL owners at the time of his $ 635 million purchase of the franchise. However, Johnson had
6565-417: The Titans of New York as Wismer explained, "Titans are bigger and stronger than Giants ." He secured the Titans' home field at the decrepit Polo Grounds, a place where the team struggled financially and on the field during its first three years. In their first two seasons of existence, coached by Sammy Baugh, the Titans went 7–7 in both 1960 and 1961. By 1962, the debt continued to mount for Wismer, forcing
6666-519: The USFL from a spring schedule to a fall schedule, directly opposite the NFL. Trump's long-term plans called for moving the Generals across the Hudson River to New York, which had not had a team play within its borders since the Jets moved from Shea Stadium in Queens to the Meadowlands after the 1983 season. He intended to have the renamed New York Generals play at Shea until the construction of
6767-501: The West Side. Defeated, the Jets agreed to enter a 50–50 joint venture with their rival, the Giants, to build a new stadium effectively agreeing to a 99-year lease, which the Giants had signed earlier in the year, to remain in New Jersey. The stadium, known as MetLife Stadium, became the first in the history of the NFL to be jointly built by two franchises. The stadium, which is illuminated in different colors depending on which team
6868-480: The assets of one of the teams displaced by the vote to move to the fall, the Houston Gamblers , during the extended off-season. This was widely reported as a merger, since the Generals inherited all of the Gamblers' player contracts—including those of quarterback Jim Kelly and wide receiver Ricky Sanders . Michaels was fired, replaced with former Gamblers coach Jack Pardee , who planned to bring Kelly and
6969-513: The distinction of being the final team to host a game at the Polo Grounds, a 19–10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on December 14, 1963. Wismer hoped the then Titans could play in what would become known as Shea Stadium beginning in 1961. However, funding difficulties and legal problems delayed construction of the stadium. Wismer signed a memorandum of understanding in late 1961 to secure the Titans' new home. That memorandum recognized that
7070-415: The facemasks from white to black, and adding a set of green pants and white socks to be worn with the white jerseys. The Jets were the first NFL team to wear a "throwback" uniform, in 1993 for a home game against the Cincinnati Bengals , celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 1968 championship team . The jersey and pants mimicked the 1963–77 design, although the team wore its regular green helmets with
7171-432: The first NFL playoff game in the stadium's history, falling to the Patriots on December 28, 1985. As the Jets sought to become a stronger franchise and remove themselves from their counterparts' shadow, the team entered into negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in an attempt to build a stadium on the west side of Manhattan , entering a bidding war with TransGas Energy Systems and Cablevision for
7272-662: The former home of the football and baseball Giants . Under new ownership, the current name was adopted in 1963 and the franchise moved to Shea Stadium in Queens in 1964, then to the Meadowlands Sports Complex in New Jersey in 1984. The team's training facility was located at Hofstra University on Long Island until 2008, when the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center opened in Florham Park. The Jets advanced to
7373-412: The fourth quarter scoring 23 unanswered points, eventually winning in overtime with a 40-yard John Hall kick. When Rex Ryan became New York's head coach, there was an increased war of words between the clubs culminating with Ryan flashing an obscene gesture to heckling Dolphins fans in January 2010. The rivalry continued between both teams when Sal Alosi , then the strength and conditioning coach of
7474-526: The game, a 29–14 Giants win. The two teams met again on December 6, 2015, with the Jets coming from behind and winning 23–20 in overtime. The teams met again in 2019, with the Jets taking the win 34–27. On October 29, 2023, the Jets won 13–10 in overtime as the visitors. As of the 2023 season, the Giants lead the all-time series 8–7. The Jets' original uniforms, as the Titans of New York in 1960, were navy blue with old gold numerals, gold pants with two parallel blue stripes on each side, and navy blue helmets with
7575-451: The jet-plane decal was replaced with a white football shape outlined in green, with the word "JETS" in thick green sans-serif italics in front of "NY" in green outline serif lettering, and a miniature football at bottom center. The decals were difficult to see from a distance (or on television), so the colors were reversed and the decals slightly enlarged in 1965. This design remained largely unchanged through 1977, apart from some variations to
7676-445: The letters "E" and "T"; the helmet decal was a secondary logo featuring only the "JETS" wordmark and football. The team also introduced a black alternate uniform with green striping and white numerals outlined in green. In 2022, with league rule changes allowing for a second helmet shell, the black uniform was paired with a matte-black alternate helmet with a metallic-green facemask and the "JETS" logo in green outlined in white. In 2023,
7777-456: The numeral and lettering typefaces, the angle of the helmet decals, and adjustments to the shoulder and sleeve striping due to changes in NFL jersey tailoring and materials. The Jets' first major design change was made for the 1978 season. The kelly green and white color scheme was retained; the new helmets were solid green with white facemasks, no stripes, and a stylized "JETS" wordmark in white on each side. The mark featured angular lettering and
7878-607: The postseason 12 times, and reached the AFC Championship Game four times, most recently losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010 . The Jets have not qualified for the playoffs since then, and currently hold the longest active playoff drought in the NFL and are tied with the Buffalo Sabres in the "Big 4" North American sports leagues . The Jets also have the longest championship drought among New York's major professional sports franchises, having eclipsed
7979-426: The regular season. The pinnacle of the rivalry came on August 17, 1969, when the Jets and Giants met for the first time, in a preseason game which was viewed as a "turf war" by both sides. The Giants, considered a mediocre team at the time, were regarded as underdogs and faced considerable scrutiny from their fans and the media. The Jets 37–14 win resulted in the firing of Giants coach Allie Sherman . The Jets met
8080-476: The rights to the West Side Yard property—Hess, prior to his death, had been approached by former mayor Rudy Giuliani about bringing the team to the West Side when their lease at Giants Stadium expired in 2008. Cablevision was fixated against the Jets owning the land as Madison Square Garden , located only a few blocks away, would be forced to compete with the stadium. Team owners had voted, 31–1, with
8181-401: The rivalry took place on September 23, 2001, when Jets linebacker Mo Lewis tackled Drew Bledsoe , leaving the veteran with internal bleeding . This provided an opportunity for Tom Brady to take over as the starting quarterback and during his tenure, Brady successfully guided New England to six Super Bowl titles. In 2006, Eric Mangini , an assistant under Belichick, left New England to join
8282-502: The series took place in Week 5 of the 1981 season with a 28–28 draw. The Jets' best chance to reach the Super Bowl after the Super Bowl III victory was thwarted by A.J. Duhe in 1983 whose interception return for touchdown on a rain-soaked field in the conference championship game was the decisive score. This remains as the lone postseason meeting in the series. One of the most famous games in Jets history took place in 1994 when
8383-461: The shoulders and cuffs, above and below the TV numerals, and the pants were white with two parallel green stripes on each side. The new helmets were white with a single green stripe down the center; the logo on each side was a silhouette of a jet airplane in green, with the word "JETS" in thick white sans-serif italics along the fuselage. In 1964 the single green center stripe became two parallel stripes, and
8484-482: The struggling Baltimore Colts of the NFL . Needing a credible owner with the means to front a team in the nation's biggest market, Dixon persuaded Oklahoma oil magnate J. Walter Duncan to step in. Duncan had originally been slated to own the USFL's Chicago franchise , as he'd grown up in Chicago. However, he readily agreed to shift to New York. Duncan took on former New England Patriots coach Chuck Fairbanks as
8585-430: The team throughout the decade. The early 1990s saw the team struggling. After firing coach Bruce Coslet , owner Leon Hess hired Pete Carroll who struggled to a 6–10 record and was promptly fired at the end of the season. Thereafter, Rich Kotite was selected to lead the team to victory; instead he led the Jets to a 4–28 record over the next two years. Kotite stepped down at the end of his second season, forcing
8686-402: The team was run—though the franchise had begun to make a profit, Werblin was making all the policies and decisions himself with little or no input from his partners, much to their dismay. Though Werblin initially resisted their ultimatum to dissolve the partnership, Werblin agreed to be bought out in 1968. Werblin remained involved in the sports community and became the first chairman and CEO of
8787-468: The team's majority stockholder in 1973, Hess bought Philip H. Iselin's share upon his death in 1976 after which only two of Hess' partners remained, Townsend Martin and Helen Dillon, who had inherited the stake from her father Donald Lillis, upon his death. Hess began to buy out the remaining partners in 1981 when he bought Martin's 25% stake for $ 5 million. Hess bought Dillon's stake three years later for another $ 5 million, acquiring sole control of
8888-401: The team's name and jerseys, was to sign Joe Namath to an unprecedented contract. Werblin's gamble would later pay off as Namath, who became a public star, led the Jets on to victory in Super Bowl III, though by then Werblin had sold his stake in the team. Werblin's partners, Townsend B. Martin, Leon Hess , Donald C. Lillis , and Philip H. Iselin , had a falling out with Werblin over the way
8989-460: The team. Hess had a passion for his team and took losses hard. In 1995, following a mediocre 6–10 season under Pete Carroll , despite generally shying away from football operations, Hess announced "I'm 80 years old, I want results now" during a conference in which Rich Kotite was introduced as the team's new coach. After two unsuccessful years with Kotite, Hess heavily involved himself in hiring Bill Parcells in hopes to see his team again reach
9090-555: The very next day (leaving a napkin at the stage for his introduction, on which he had written "I resign as HC of the NYJ") and went on to accept the head coaching position with the Patriots. The franchise obtained a new owner in Woody Johnson in 2000. Additionally, through the 2000s the Jets visited the playoffs five times, a franchise record, under the direction of three coaches: Herm Edwards, Eric Mangini, and Rex Ryan. Rex Ryan
9191-545: Was angered at being "thrown out to the press" by Trump. After Joe Paterno of Penn State turned him down as well, Trump hired former New York Jets head coach Walt Michaels . The Generals responded to their poor 1983 showing with an influx of veteran NFL talent for 1984, including wide receiver Tom McConnaughey , quarterback Brian Sipe , defensive back Gary Barbaro , and linebackers Jim LeClair and Bobby Leopold . Both Walker and fullback Maurice Carthon rushed for over 1,000 yards (Walker 1,339; Carthon 1,042) as
9292-415: Was fired following the 2020 season. Prior to the 2021 season, the Jets hired former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as head coach. The Jets used their first round pick, second overall, on BYU quarterback Zach Wilson. The 2021 season saw the Jets go 4–13 to finish last in the AFC East. The 2022 season saw improvement for the Jets with a 7–10 record with another last place finish in the division. In
9393-590: Was held at a high school soccer field in Florida . As part of an agreement with the New York Yankees , the Generals played their home games at Yankee Stadium . The team's held their first home game on April 22, 1967, a 2–1 victory against the Chicago Spurs . The Generals finished their sole season in the NPSL with a win–loss–tie record of 11–13–8. Following the 1967 season, the NPSL merged with
9494-403: Was hired in January 2009. In the draft that year the Jets would take USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick with the intent of making him the franchise centerpiece. Ryan and Sanchez led the team to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances during their first two years, but the team never made the playoffs again during their tenure. The Jets had a 6–10 season in 2012 and
9595-459: Was intended to reflect the modern approach of his team. The Jets' owners hired Weeb Ewbank as the general manager and head coach. Ewbank and quarterback Joe Namath led the Jets to prominence in 1969, when New York defeated the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III and solidified the AFL's position in the world of professional football. When the AFL and NFL merged , the team fell into
9696-404: Was interested in renewing the team's lease at Shea, which was due to expire in 1983. Hess negotiated with New York mayor Ed Koch . Hess wanted the city to redevelop the stadium to expand its capacity. He also hoped to renegotiate other aspects of the lease—the Jets received no money from ticketholders parking at Shea. Hess's proposals met resistance from Koch. When negotiations reached an impasse,
9797-549: Was likely to make or break the entire venture." The New York Generals were originally founded and owned by RKO General (which at the time also owned WOR-TV ) and Wall Street investor Peter Elser. The team's gold and green color scheme was based on that of the Green Bay Packers , which had been one of the more successful gridiron football teams of that time. The contrasting colors were also chosen with consideration towards viewers of black and white television, which
9898-404: Was offering Belichick a $ 1 million bonus to stay put. However, Belichick had not spoken to the two potential new owners, Woody Johnson and Charles Dolan, and had issues with both because the original agreement with Hess was no longer there; "the whole ownership configuration at that point in time was a major factor in my decision much more than a personal relationship." A critical turning point of
9999-403: Was receptive, but insisted on getting a rent-free apartment at Trump Tower . In October 1983, Trump announced that the deal was all but done, but the only snag was Shula's insistence on an apartment. A furious Shula broke off talks. Years later, former Dolphins' running back Larry Csonka , by then an executive with the Jacksonville Bulls , said that he believed Shula would have taken the job, but
10100-463: Was still fairly common in the United States at this time (as one team director said, they were "good colors for television"). The team's name was chosen as a direct reference to their owner, RKO General. Freddie Goodwin was selected as head coach for the team and quickly assembled a team that included players such as Barrie Wright and César Luis Menotti . Pre-season training for the team
10201-500: Was the second in the New York metropolitan area to be known as "Generals," since there was a professional soccer team in the late 1960s known as the New York Generals . From the beginning, USFL founder David Dixon placed a premium on putting a team in the New York area. Initially, Donald Trump was tapped to own the team. However, he backed out after paying an initial installment on the franchise fee, hoping instead to buy
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