While the New York Jets have been in existence since 1959, they have only won one Superbowl throughout their entire history in 1969. That’s right, 54 years of suffering, just one Superbowl.
Bad luck looms around sports all the time, but the Jets controversially have it the worst. Between the “Butt Fumble”, coach for a day and Aaron Rodgers’ torn achilles tendon, the Jets have had pretty unfavorable luck throughout the years.
The “Butt Fumble” is one of the most embarrassing moments in the history of the NFL. The New York Jets went up against the New England Patriots on a Thanksgiving night at MetLife Stadium. Quarterback Mark Sanchez for the Jets brought his team across the field down 14-0. He takes the snap, and tries to hand it off to running back Lex Hilliard. His blockers are blocking the right way when he goes the wrong way and tries to go down after realizing his dumb mistake. Sanchez runs into the butt of his own offensive lineman, Brandon Moore. The ball comes loose and he is on the ground while the Patriots pick up the ball, and the whole stadium is booing as he is on the ground while they return it for a touchdown. The Patriots scored 21 points in 52 seconds on the Jets. Quarterback Mark Sanchez says, “I guess I was more stunned than anything. It was just like a car accident. I was like, “Whoa, what just happened, the ball is gone?” It was weird, man.”
Bill Belichick will unanimously be in the Hall of Fame, arguably the best coach of all time. Bill Belichick was working out in the Jets locker room in his Jets warm-up suit before practice. After his workout he was spotted leaving with his stuff. “I said to myself, ‘That is one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen. There’s something up,’” said former Jets public-relations director Frank Ramos about what he saw happening. Bill Belichick made one of the most stunning announcements of all time. A few moments before he was introduced to being the head coach, he wrote on a napkin that he was resigning as head coach. This was a very confusing moment for all Jets fans but not surprising knowing what usually happens with this team.
The New York Jets had hope going into the 2023 season, but it was blasted away in one play. Future Hall of Fame Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is an all time great. In late April, right before the draft, Jets fans got a star. The New York Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers in a trade. The New York Jets open their season against division rival Buffalo Bills. The stadium is sold out and very loud. 4:04 into the game, the biggest play of all season for the Jets happened, but it wasn’t good. Rodgers steps back and he gets sacked. He gets up and starts limping, it didn’t look terrible. He takes a seat on the ground. The whole crowd is silent wondering what is going to happen next. Is he out for the season, is it for a few plays, or is it for a few weeks? The offensive linemen tried to help him up from the ground, but Rodgers told them, “I’m not getting up,” according to guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. The Jets season is over. It doesn’t matter that they won this game. Zach Wilson is the quarterback for the rest of the season. The Jets now have a 4-8 record and once again waiting till next season. They went from Super Bowl contenders to potential top 5 draft picks (worst teams in the league). This is the worst possible thing that could happen to this franchise. Are they cursed? Is this an annual thing? The Jets will now have a 13-year playoff drought.
The Jets will look toward the 2024 season with hope as Rodgers will be back. But once again, this team blew their chances. Who knows if he’ll get injured, he is 40 years old. Aaron Rodgers will hope to end their drought next season and turn this terrible, cursed franchise around.