New York Jets

 but no penalty was called.

2002

The AFC East proved to be even more competitive in 2002, with all four teams in the race well into December. Testaverde was benched early in the season with the team at 1-4, and replaced with Chad Pennington, who proved to be the spark the Jets needed. Pennington threw 22 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions, and a final-week win over the Green Bay Packers, coupled with a Patriots win over the Dolphins, gave them the AFC East title at 9-7. The Jets cruised through the opening playoff game with a 41-0 blowout of the Indianapolis Colts, but collapsed in the second half against the eventual AFC champion Raiders in the divisional playoff.

2003

The Jets lost several players to free agency in the off-season, many to the Washington Redskins. Additionally, a pre-season injury to Pennington would adversely affect the Jets throughout 2003. Ironically, it would be Testaverde (whose injury in the 1999 season opener similarly set the tone for the year) who was called upon to take over. Though Testaverde gave his best effort, and Pennington came back midway through the season, it was not enough. The Jets finished 6-10.

2004

Pennington was healthy again for the start of the 2004 season, and the Jets started the season 5-0 before losing 2 of their next 3. Despite struggling down the stretch and having Pennington miss three games (later revealed to be an injured rotator cuff), the Jets finished with a 10-6 record and earned a wild-card berth.

=Playoffs

=Herman Edwards' team faced the AFC West champion San Diego Chargers in the opening round, a team that featured Pro Bowlers Drew Brees, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Antonio Gates. The Jets took advantage of San Diego miscues and what some felt was an overly conservative strategy by the Chargers. But with the Jets leading, 17-10, with under 20 seconds left in regulation, Jets linebacker Eric Barton was penalized for roughing the passer, nullifying Brees' fourth down incompletion and giving San Diego a first down from the one-yard line. Brees threw a touchdown to tight end Gates on the following play, setting up overtime. Chargers rookie kicker Nate Kaeding missed a 40-yard field goal late in the extra period, allowing the Jets to come back down the field. Kicker Doug Brien won the game for the Jets with a 28-yard field goal with five seconds remaining in overtime.

The game sent the Jets to the divisional round against the 15-1 Pittsburgh Steelers. In the divisional round, the Jets played the heavily favored Steelers extremely tough. While the offense struggled, producing only a field goal, a punt return, and interception return kept the Jets in the game. With the score tied at 17-17 late in the fourth quarter, Doug Brien lined up for a 47-yard field goal attempt that would have put the Jets up. However it hit the cross beam of the goal post just short of being successful.

Despite this the Jets came through yet again, with an interception by cornerback David Barrett on the next play. Rather than try to drive for a touchdown or otherwise get closer for a game-winning field goal, the Jets seemed content to settle for a 43-yard field goal attempt that would have given the Jets the win—ironically, the same unsuccessful strategy the Chargers had employed the previous week. Brien's kick missed, wide left, forcing the game into overtime. The Jets would lose on a 33-yard field goal by Pittsburgh kicker Jeff Reed, as the Jets fell just short yet again. In the days following the loss, many people and pundits opined that the Jets lost this game by not being aggressive and being too willing to settle for a risky field goal attempt, ignoring the fact that Brien had been 10-11 in field goal attempts between 40-49 yards on the season.

2005

The 2005 season started out with the Jets reacquiring WR Laveranues Coles from the Washington Redskins and acquiring CB Ty Law from the New England Patriots. The Jets also acquired free agent quarterback Jay Fiedler of the Miami Dolphins as a veteran backup for the starter, Chad Pennington.

Unfortunately Pennington's shoulder was injured much worse than had been feared, including a complete tear of the rotator cuff. He was placed on the injured list for the remainder of the season. Their backup quarterback Fiedler was injured seven plays after Pennington's season-ending injury, causing previous third-string quarterback Brooks Bollinger to take the role as the team's starter and Vinny Testaverde was brought back out of retirement as Bollinger's backup. After a poor showing by the Jets' offense in a loss and being called on to start Week 5 against Tampa Bay after Brooks Bollinger proved ineffective, Testaverde's steady hand led the offense, and Curtis Martin scored two touchdowns, giving the Jets just enough to earn a 14–12 victory over the previously undefeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But the season got very sour after the victory over Tampa Bay. They would lose their next 7 games to the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and the New England Patriots respectively, before the losing-streak ended on December 11, 2005. Even worse, they had been outscored 78-23 in the first quarter alone this season. The injuries of several key players, including running back Derrick Blaylock and cornerback David Barrett, and season-ending injuries of wide receiver Wayne Chrebet, tight end Chris Baker, right tackle Jason Fabini, Pro bowl starting center Kevin Mawae, and quarterback Jay Fiedler, among others, have severely hampered their ability to play competitively.

On December 11, 2005, the Jets won against the Oakland Raiders 26-10. This victory snapped their seven-game losing streak. Unfortunately, running back Curtis Martin did not play in the game due to a season-ending knee injury which required arthroscopic surgery. The next week, on December 18, the Jets lost to their division rival Miami Dolphins, despite a career effort by QB Brooks Bollinger and a 100+ yard game from TE Doug Jolley. A 31-21 home loss to the Patriots in the last Monday Night Football game to be aired on ABC dropped them to 3-12. The Jets get swept by the Patriots for the third straight year and the Jets haven't beaten the Patriots since 2002, when they won the AFC East division. In that game, Vinny Testaverde became the first player in NFL history to throw at least one touchdown pass in 19 straight seasons when he tossed a late score to Laveranues Coles. Also, when the Pats sent in 43-year old Doug Flutie to finish the game, it became the first time in NFL history that two 40+ year old QBs went up against each other. On a side note, the Jets lost the very first MNF game to the Cleveland Browns by that exact score. They closed out the season by beating the Buffalo Bills 30-26. Ty Law keyed the win by intercepting Kelly Holcomb three out of four times. They ended the year with a 4-12 record and "earned" the fourth pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

On January 8, 2006, Herm Edwards ended his time as head coach of the Jets and he signed a 4-year, $12,000,000 contract to become the new head of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jets received a 4th round draft pick from the Chiefs as compensation for Edwards, who was still under contract with the Jets at the time. The Jets were criticized for what what was considered inadequate compensation for the loss of their head coach.

The Eric Mangini Era: 2006-

On January 17, the Jets announced that Eric Mangini had been signed as head coach. [1] [2]Mangini would become the youngest head coach in the NFL, turning 35 on January 19. Mangini's first order of business was to assemble a staff. Offensive Coordinator Mike Heimerdinger and Defensive Coordinator Donnie Henderson were both released from the Jets staff. Special Teams Coordinator Mike Westoff was retained. A full staff was announced on February 20. Linebackers coach Bob Sutton was named defensive coordinator and the team signed Jim Herrmann to replace Sutton as the linebackers coach. Herrmann was the defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan for twenty years before arriving in New York.

General Manager Terry Bradway announced that he was stepping down as Jets GM on February 7. Assistant GM Mike Tannenbaum was named the new GM on the same day. Bradway continues to be employed by the Jets organization as a scouting consultant.

The Jets moved quickly to get under the salary cap as they were over by $25 million. On February 22, tackle Jason Fabini, quarterback Jay Fiedler, linebacker Barry Gardner, defensive tackle Lance Legree, fullback Jerald Sowell and wide receiver Harry Williams, were placed on waviers. The team chose not to tender an offer to Mark Brown. Cornerback Ty Law mutually parted ways as the Jets organization decided not to exercise the contract option to extend his contract through 2008. Running Back Curtis Martin also agreed to an undisclosed restructured contract.

Pro Bowl Center Kevin Mawae was released on Sunday March 5th. Mawae did not believe his release was for salary cap reasons as his cut would only be a savings of $1.5 million, rather a change in direction for the team.[3]

The Jets restructured the contract of Quarterback Chad Pennington. Pennington's contract was cut from a base salary of $6 million to $3 million. Pennington will be able to make back the $3 million through incentives. He also had to forfeit his $3 million roster bonus that was due at the start of free agency.

John Abraham was designated the teams franchise player. He would later be traded to the Atlanta Falcons involving a 3-way trade between the Jets, Falcons, and the Denver Broncos. The Falcons traded their 1st round draft pick (#15) to the Broncos for the Broncos 1st (#29), 3rd (#93) and next years 4th round pick. The Falcons traded the #29 overall pick to the Jets in exchange for Abraham. [4]

Patrick Ramsey was traded to the Jets on March 17th 2006 for this year's 6th round draft pick.

Tight end Chris Baker, who became an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, re-signed with his hometown team on March 24th.

Andre Dyson was signed by the Jets on March 29th 2006 for a five-year, $11.5 million deal, including $3 million in signing and roster bonuses.

Other notable signings include linebackers Matt Chatham, a former New England Patriot like Mangini himself and ex-Tennessee Titan Brad Kassell, ex-Pittsburgh Steeler defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen, another ex-Patriot wide receiver Tim Dwight, ex-Denver Bronco defensive tackle Monsanto Pope, ex-Buffalo Bill center Trey Teague, and ex-Arizona Cardinal Offensive Tackle Anthony Clement.

The club also signed former longtime Jets Victor Green and Richie Anderson. Both intend to retire in a Jets uniform. The Jets chose Virginia offensive left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson with the 4th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. They then used their second pick (from Denver via Atlanta) on Ohio State Center Nick Mangold. The rest of their picks included Oregon Quarterback Kellen Clemens, Ohio St. Linebacker Anthony Schlegel, Michigan State Safety Eric Smith, Missouri Quarterback turned Wide Receiver Brad Smith, Florida State Running Back Leon Washington, Wisconsin Tight End Jason Pociask, Texas Christian Cornerback Drew Coleman, and Nebraska Defensive Tackle Titus Adams.

To replace Ty Law in the defensive backfield, the Jets re-signed Ray Mickens, who, aside from last season, has played all of his professional seasons with the Jets.

Logo and uniforms

NY Titans logo (1960â€"1962)

NY Jets AFL logo

NY Jets logo (1978-1997)

When the club debuted in 1960 as the Titans, the team wore blue helmets, gold trim, and either blue or white jerseys.

After the club was renamed the Jets in 1963, the uniform design was changed to white helmets, white pants, and either green or white jerseys. The green jerseys had white stripes on the shoulders and white sleeves. The white jerseys had green stripes on the shoulders and green sleeves.

The team's logo in 1963 consisted of a green airplane with the word "Jets" written on its side. The logo was changed a year later to a football shaped oval with the letters "NY" superimposed, and superimposed over that, both the word "Jets" and a football in green. In 1967, the logo's colors were inverted so that the oval became green, and the word "JETS" and the football became white.

In 1978, the Jets changed both their logo and uniform design. The new logo consisted of the word "Jets" with a futuristic jet above it. The new uniform design consisted of green helmets, white pants, and either green or white jerseys.

In 1998, the team reverted back to the 1967 logo and the 1963 uniform design.

Season-by-season records