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The Jets began as the Titans of New York,
a charter member of the American Football League in 1960.
When a group including Sonny Werblin bought the team from
Harry Wismer in 1963, the team was re-named the New York Jets.
In 1965,
the Jets signed Alabama quarterback Joe Namath after the NFL
passed on Namath in the amateur draft. Under Namath's guidance,
the Jets rose to the top of the AFL and in 1969 represented
that league in the Super Bowl. They were pitted against the
"best team in the NFL", the Baltimore Colts. At
the time, the AFL was considered to be inferior to the NFL
and most people considered the Jets to be heavy underdogs.
In the week leading up to Super Bowl III, Namath famously
"guaranteed" a victory and the Jets went on to complete
one of the greatest upsets in football history by defeating
the Colts 16-7. This victory showed that the AFL was capable
of competing with the NFL and eventually led to the merging
of the two leagues in 1970. The Jets' first game in the NFL
was also the first-ever Monday Night Football game, a 31-21
loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Under new coach Herman Edwards, the Jets were streaky through
the 2001 season in a highly competitive AFC East. The team
managed to salvage a wild-card with a 53-yard game-winning
field goal against the Oakland Raiders in the final minute,
forcing a rematch with the Raiders in the opening playoff
game. The results were different in the playoffs, with the
Raiders cruising to a 38-24 win.
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 win over the Green Bay Packers in the final week 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.
The Jets
lost several players to free agency in the off-season (mostly
to the Washington Redskins), and a pre-season injury to Pennington
submarined the Jets in 2003. Testaverde, thought by many on
the downside of his career, was forced to take over. Pennington
came back midway through the season, but it was too late.
The Jets finished 6-10.
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, the Jets finished
with a 10-6 record and earned a wild card berth. Herm 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. In a classic bout
which was a rematch of week 2 the Jets prevailed with a Doug
Brien field goal in overtime. The game sent the Jets to the
divisional round against the 15-1 Pittsburgh Steelers.
In the
divisional round, the Jets hung tight with the heavily favored
Steelers. 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, kicker Doug Brien lined up for a 47 yard field goal
attempt that would have put the Jets up. It fell just short.
Brien
was saved by an interception of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben
Roethlisberger on the next play, and soon lined up for a 43
yard attempt. This one sailed wide left, forcing the game
into overtime. The Jets lost on a 33 yard field goal by Pittsburgh
kicker Jeff Reed, as they fell just short yet again.
Founded:
1960 (charter American Football League (AFL) member; joined
the NFL in the 1970 merger)
Formerly known as: New York Titans, 1960-1962.
Sonny Werblin changed the name to "Jets" when he
bought the team in 1963.
Home stadiums: First the Polo Grounds, then
Shea Stadium, then Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Uniform colors: Green and White
Helmet design: A green oval, with the letters
"NY" superimposed, and superimposed over that, the
word "JETS" and a football
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Arizona
Cardinals 
