The New York Jets have officially been eliminated from the NFL postseason picture for a 15th consecutive season, a fate sealed by a comprehensive 34-10 defeat to division rivals the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
A Season of Struggle Culminates in Miami
This latest failure to reach the playoffs comes as little surprise after a dismal campaign. The team's fortunes were bleak from the outset, leading to a significant sell-off of players at the trade deadline, followed by continued poor performances. The loss in Miami served as the final, definitive blow to their fading hopes.
With this result, the Jets now hold the longest active playoff drought across North America's 'Big Four' sports leagues – the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. The streak stretches all the way back to the 2010 season, when they last tasted postseason action, reaching the AFC Championship game before falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Quarterback Crisis Seals Their Fate
The game itself was a microcosm of the Jets' troubled year. With starter Justin Fields ruled out, the offence turned to veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor. However, Taylor's involvement lasted only a handful of plays before he suffered a groin injury and was unable to return.
This forced the Jets to hand the reins to undrafted rookie Brady Cook, a former University of Missouri player. Cook struggled immensely in his unexpected debut, completing just 14 of his 30 pass attempts for 163 yards and throwing two costly interceptions.
While Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also had a relatively quiet day (13-of-21 for 127 yards and one touchdown), Miami's dominant running game powered them to victory. Running back Jaylen Wright rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown from 24 carries, with teammates De'Von Achane and Ollie Gordon II also scoring. In total, the Dolphins amassed 358 yards of offence, dwarfing the Jets' paltry 207.
How the Jets' Drought Compares
Despite the stark nature of their 15-season postseason absence, the Jets remain some way off the all-time NFL record. That dubious honour is shared by two franchises: the Washington Commanders (1946-1970) and the Arizona Cardinals (1949-1973), who both endured 25-year droughts.
Looking at other major leagues, the NHL's Buffalo Sabres are close behind the Jets, having missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the past 14 years. This is currently the longest active drought in the NHL and also constitutes the league's all-time record.
In baseball, the Los Angeles Angels own the longest active MLB playoff drought at eleven years. Meanwhile, in the NBA, the Charlotte Hornets have failed to reach the postseason for nine consecutive seasons.
For the long-suffering fans of the New York Jets, the wait for a return to playoff football will now extend into a 16th year, a stark reminder of the franchise's prolonged period of frustration on the gridiron.
