New York Jets · Franchise era 2 of 6
After the guarantee: the New York Jets story
Franchise era
1969—1980
After the guarantee
New York Jets
The story in one sentence
Injuries limited Namath and New York spent much of the 1970s searching before a young defensive line began to emerge.
01
Aging stars give way to a slow rebuild
02
Joe Namath, John Riggins and Wesley Walker gave the era its recognizable core.
03
Its ending created the conditions for the sack exchange and more near misses.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1969
What came before
The Titans became the Jets, signed Namath and validated the entire AFL by upsetting Baltimore in Super Bowl III.
1969-12-20
Divisional Round: Kansas City Chiefs vs New York Jets
After 1980
What came next
The Sack Exchange led consecutive playoff teams, and the 1986 club began 10–1 before injuries and an overtime loss ended its run.
The core