Jets Fan Ranks Five Worst Seasons Since 1997

John Jastremski, a media personality for Underscore Media, published a ranking of the five worst New York Jets seasons since 1997 following the team's second consecutive home loss. The analysis appears in his podcast, New York, New York, which airs on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. Jastremski noted that the 2026 season has effectively ended after losses to the Dolphins and Raiders, leaving the team two games from a 2-8 record. The franchise faces the Chiefs and Bills in its final two weeks of play.

The list begins with the 2008 campaign, which Jastremski ranked fifth. The Jets started that season 8-3 under quarterback Brett Favre. After winning road games against the Patriots and Titans, fans anticipated a Super Bowl run. Favre suffered an injury, and the team finished 1-4 to miss the postseason. The season ended with former Jets quarterback Chad Pennington leading the Miami Dolphins to the division title at Giants Stadium.

Jastremski placed the 2024 season at number four. The team entered that year as favorites to win the AFC East after Aaron Rodgers returned from an Achilles tear. The Jets fired their head coach after five games and finished 5-12. Jastremski described the season as a period where the team found new ways to lose.

The 2011 season ranked third on the list. The Jets had reached the AFC Championship game in the two prior seasons. They went 8-5 in 2011 but missed the playoffs for the first time during the Rex Ryan era. The season concluded with a Christmas Eve loss in Week 16, a game featuring a 99-yard touchdown by Victor Cruz. Jastremski cited the play calling by Brian Schottenheimer as a key factor in the defeat.

The 2025 season took the number two spot. Jastremski based this ranking on the team's watchability. Under head coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets started 0-7. The team lost every game by large margins, signaling a lack of competitive effort. Jastremski argued that the performance proved Glenn was not the right leader for the franchise.

The 2020 season under Adam Gase ranked as the worst. Jastremski described the roster as being in an abyss. The Jets remained winless until a late December victory over the Rams. That win potentially cost the team the first overall pick in the draft, which went to Trevor Lawrence. The team flirted with a winless record for over 14 weeks. The Jets have not made the postseason since 2010, a drought Jastremski noted is the longest in professional sports.