5 most hyped Jets seasons in franchise history as 2024 run draws closer

The NY Jets have been around for 65 years now, and with only one Super Bowl championship and a handful of memorable playoff runs, they haven't produced too many exciting and highly anticipated seasons.

It's fair to say the upcoming 2024-25 season is one of the most anticipated in Jets history. With a top-five all-time quarterback at the helm in Aaron Rodgers and a defense that can compete with any in the league, the collective hope is palpable. More so than in almost any other season.

Pre-season hype is always based on just how high the expectation of success is, both internally and externally. So using that as the criteria, let’s stack this season's hype up against other campaigns in Jets history. With 1 being the most anticipated and 5 being the least, let's see where 2024-25 ranks all-time.

5 most hyped NY Jets seasons in franchise history

1. 1999-2000

Going into the 1999 season, the Jets were viewed as one of the favorites to emerge from the AFC and reach the Super Bowl. They had just reached the 1998 AFC Championship Game and even held a halftime lead against John Elway's vaunted Denver Broncos. 

With a legend at head coach in Bill Parcells, a future Hall of Fame running back in Curtis Martin, a talented veteran QB in Vinny Testaverde and a loaded team that had ranked fourth in total offense and seventh in total defense the previous season, hopes were sky-high.

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for those hopes to plummet.

They lasted until about halfway through the second quarter of the opening game, when Testaverde ruptured his Achilles’ tendon recovering a fumble. Any thoughts of a Lombardi Trophy ended right then and there, which would become something of a trend for the Jets.

They finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs.

2. 2010-11

This was not only a highly anticipated Jets season, but it was also the last time they reached the playoffs. Fourteen years ago, the Jets were the talk of the NFL, coming off one of the greatest road playoff runs in league history. 

In 2009, they went on the road to beat the Carson Palmer-led Cincinnati Bengals and the Philip Rivers-led San Diego Chargers. Despite carrying a lead into halftime of the AFC title game, they fell short to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts after finishing the regular season with the No. 1 overall defense.

The next season, the hype was immense.

The 2010 Jets lived up to it, finishing third in defense, jumping from 20th to 11th in offense and completing the season with an 11-5 record. Again road warriors, they went into Indy to avenge their loss to Peyton Manning's Colts and then shocked the world by defeating Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots in Foxborough. 

Although they fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC title game the following week, they certainly gave fans a season to remember — unlike the next season on our list. 

3. 2023-24

The hype ended in 2023 even quicker than in 1999. We all know what happened. 

The Jets traded for future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers to pair him with a young and talented defensive unit. On the offensive side, they boasted two young studs in running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson. On the defensive side, they were led by emerging star cornerback Sauce Gardner. 

Unusual as it felt for Jets fans, their team was a Super Bowl favorite. Completely out of nowhere. 

And as quickly as the hype arose, it died just as quickly. On the season's fourth play from scrimmage, it was all over. Rodgers took what seemed like an inconspicuous sack, but it turned out to be deja vu. Another star Jets QB had ruptured his Achilles in Game 1, and all hope was lost.

The Jets finished 31st in offense with a 7-10 record despite boasting a solid defense.

4. 2024-25

There isn’t too much more to say about this season that hasn’t already been said. It’s largely the same team as last year, except one could argue the roster is even more talented. 

After losing edge-rusher Bryce Huff to Philly, the Jets acquired star defensive end Haason Reddick from those same Eagles. They also added veteran talent in wide receiver Mike Williams and offensive tackle Tyron Smith. 

Aaron Rodgers seems all-in, just as he was last season. This may be head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas’ last chance to save their jobs, so a lot is on the line. We are all eagerly awaiting kickoff in September. 

5. 1968-69

This was the first and last time the Jets finished the season holding the ultimate prize. 

With a legend leading the squad in QB Joe Namath, as well as the No. 3 overall defense in the AFL the previous year, hope prevailed heading into the season. Even after the Jets finished a meager 8-5-1 in 1967, fans believed the team could take the next step.

No one thought an AFL team could win the Super Bowl. Namath was an exceptional talent, though, and as long as the gunslinger could clean up his interception-happy habits, the Jets seemed to have a real shot at winning at least the AFL title.

However, they did the impossible. They defeated the Baltimore Colts to win Super Bowl III, completing the greatest upset in football history and becoming the first AFL team to win the trophy. It was a feat that helped lead to the AFL/NFL merger and changed history forever.