NFL schedule release reveals what the league really thinks of the NY Jets

The NFL schedule release is always full of intrigue, and one of the easiest ways to gauge how the league views a team is by how often they appear in the national spotlight. For the New York Jets, that spotlight has diminished considerably this year.

A year after being handed six primetime games due in large part to the Aaron Rodgers hype, the Jets will appear on national television just twice in the 2025 season.

They’ll play on Thursday Night Football in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins and return to Monday Night Football in Week 11 against the New England Patriots. Aside from a Week 6 London matchup with the Denver Broncos, that’s it for standalone games in 2025.

The shift is no coincidence. The league’s schedule reflects its skepticism about the new-look Jets, who are now led by first-year head coach Aaron Glenn, new general manager Darren Mougey, and quarterback Justin Fields.

ESPN insider Adam Schefter summed it up best on a recent episode of his podcast last week. The NFL isn’t betting on the Jets to be must-watch TV this fall.

"The Jets are amazing because last year with Aaron Rodgers. [They had] six prime time games. This year, [they have] two primetime games. So the league is telling us they don’t believe that much in the Jets. Understandable right now, we’ll see how it goes with a first-year head coach in Aaron Glenn, new GM Darren Mougey, and essentially a new, re-made roster."

Adam Schefter

The NFL has made it clear they do not believe in the NY Jets

This dramatic shift in visibility reflects just how much has changed for the Jets since last year. Rodgers infamously tore his Achilles just four plays into the 2023 season, but the anticipation of his 2024 return kept the Jets in the national spotlight.

He came back healthy and started all 17 games, putting up solid individual numbers, but the team as a whole floundered. The Jets finished with just five wins, leading to the midseason firing of head coach Robert Saleh and the eventual dismissal of general manager Joe Douglas before the season ended.

The franchise has since undergone a complete makeover. New head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey were hired to rebuild from the ground up.

The team moved on from Rodgers and handed the reins to former Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields in an attempt to hit the reset button. While there’s hope that this new regime can finally steady the ship, it’s clear the NFL isn’t sold, at least not yet.

The Jets’ lack of primetime exposure on the 2025 schedule is a reflection of that skepticism. They’ve been bumped from the national stage, and now they’ll have to earn their way back.

But if Fields and Glenn can flip the script, don’t be surprised if the league’s stance and the team's schedule look very different in 2026.

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