If you’re a New York Jets fan, you’re probably used to the "same old Jets" jokes. But honestly? The 2025 season was a different kind of painful. We went in with high hopes, yet we’re sitting here in early 2026 looking at a 3-14 record. It’s brutal. The new york jets season schedule looked manageable on paper back in May, but by October, the wheels hadn't just come off—the whole car was on fire.
Look, everyone knew the AFC East would be a gauntlet. But nobody predicted a seven-game losing streak to start the year. Seven. That’s not just bad luck; that’s a systemic collapse.
The Schedule That Broke the 2025 Jets
The nightmare started immediately. Week 1 at MetLife against the Steelers was supposed to be the "Aaron Rodgers Revenge Game," except Rodgers wasn't even on the team anymore. He was in Pittsburgh, and the Jets were starting Justin Fields. We lost 34-32. Close, sure, but a loss is a loss.
Then came the blowout by Buffalo (30-10) and two heartbreaking road losses to Tampa Bay and Miami. By the time the Dallas Cowboys rolled into town for Week 5 and hung 37 points on us, the atmosphere in the stadium was basically toxic.
That Brutal London Trip
Remember Week 6? The game in London against Denver?
- The Score: 13-11 (Broncos)
- The Vibe: Sluggish, jet-lagged, and frustrating.
- The Result: 0-6 record.
Coming back from across the pond didn't help either. We lost to a struggling Carolina Panthers team at home, 13-6. It was the lowest point of the season. At 0-7, people were already looking at mock drafts for 2026.
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Finding Life in the Mid-Season
Kinda weirdly, the team didn't just quit. They finally caught a break in Cincinnati during Week 8. Winning 39-38 in a shootout felt like a fever dream. After the bye week, we actually beat Cleveland 27-20. For a split second, there was this tiny sliver of hope. Maybe the new york jets season schedule had a "easy" stretch?
Nope.
We went 1-7 over the final nine games. The only bright spot was a narrow 27-24 win over Atlanta in Week 13. Aside from that? It was a parade of blowouts. The 48-20 loss to Jacksonville in Week 15 was particularly embarrassing. Then the Patriots—our "little brothers" for so long—absolutely dismantled us 42-10 in Week 17. By the time we hit the regular-season finale in Buffalo (another 35-8 loss), the team looked like they just wanted to go home.
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The Aaron Rodgers Elephant in the Room
You can't talk about the Jets right now without mentioning the guy playing in Pittsburgh. Rodgers spent the whole season taking shots at the Jets organization. After the Steelers got bounced from the playoffs a few days ago, he basically said he’s glad he played for "two special places" (Packers and Steelers), totally ignoring his time in New York.
It’s petty. But honestly, given how the Jets' season went, maybe the feeling is mutual. The Jets moved on to Justin Fields, but when Fields went down with a head injury in Week 2, the QB room became a revolving door of Tyrod Taylor and rookie Brady Cook. It's hard to win in the NFL when you don't know who’s taking the snap on Wednesday.
Key Stats From a Lost Year
- Final Record: 3-14 (4th in AFC East)
- Division Record: 0-6 (Ouch.)
- Points Per Game: Roughly 18.5 (Ranked bottom five)
- Bright Spot: Breece Hall finally hit that 1,000-yard rushing mark in Week 17.
What Happens Now?
The season is over, and the housecleaning has already started. Darren Mougey is in as GM, and Aaron Glenn is the new head coach. Because the Jets finished with such a terrible record, we’ve actually got some serious ammunition for the 2026 NFL Draft.
We currently hold the No. 2 and No. 16 overall picks.
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The No. 2 pick is obviously the big one. With Oregon's Dante Moore recently announcing he's staying in school (which sucks for us), the focus shifts to guys like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Alabama’s Ty Simpson. The Jets must get the quarterback situation right this time. No more "one year away" talk. No more aging veterans on their last legs.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Watch the Senior Bowl: Keep a close eye on the QB prospects. Since the Jets pick at No. 2, every throw these kids make matters.
- Free Agency (Starts March 11): The Jets traded away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams for a haul of picks. Now they need to spend some of that cap space on an offensive line that can actually protect a rookie.
- Draft Prep: Mark your calendars for late April. The draft is in Pittsburgh this year. Imagine the scenes if the Jets draft their future franchise QB in Rodgers’ new backyard.
The new york jets season schedule for 2026 is already being mapped out. We know we’re playing the AFC West and the NFC North. It’s not going to be easy, but with two top-20 picks and a new coaching staff, the "same old Jets" narrative has to die eventually. Right?
Stay tuned to the official team announcements in May for the specific dates and times of the 2026 games. For now, we just embrace the draft season. It's the only time being a Jets fan feels safe.