The New York Jets' pursuit of glory ends in a historic drought
In short: After acquiring four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers to end their playoff drought, the New York Jets faced a brutal reality. Instead of a resurgence, the 2024 season became a saga of coaching changes, losing streaks, and a franchise struggling to find its footing in the NFL.
The 2024 season was intended to be a turning point for the Jets, marking their second year with quarterback Aaron Rodgers following his 2023 Achilles injury. Aiming to surpass their 7–10 results from 2022 and 2023, the squad hoped to break the longest active playoff drought in American professional sports. However, the campaign was defined by instability and failure, as the team missed the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year, marking the 16th time in the last 18 seasons they failed to qualify.
The season was marked by significant leadership shifts. After losing to the Minnesota Vikings in London during Week 5, head coach Robert Saleh was dismissed and Jeff Ulbrich took over as interim head coach. The instability continued as General Manager Joe Douglas was also dismissed on November 19, following a Week 11 loss to the Indianapolis Colts that left the team with a 3–8 record. Douglas was replaced by Phil Savage.
On the field, the Jets struggled with consistency, starting the year with a 2–6 record—their worst start since 2021. Even with major signings such as Mike Williams and Davante Adams, the club endured a nine-game losing season, extending the league's longest active streak. The season concluded with a 5–12 record, featuring a surprising final win against the Miami Dolphins where Rodgers threw his 500th career touchdown pass, but the team was already eliminated from playoff contention.
The season also saw individual milestones and setbacks. At 20 years, 239 days old, rookie running back Braelon Allen set a record as the youngest player to score a scrimmage touchdown. Conversely, the team faced significant injury losses, such as defensive end Jermaine Johnson, who tore his Achilles and missed the remainder of the season.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2024 New York Jets season
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