The New York Jets entered the 2024 NFL season with sky-high expectations after acquiring future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a blockbuster trade. Owner Woody Johnson declared it was the most talented Jets roster in his 25 years at the helm. Super Bowl aspirations filled the air. But those lofty goals quickly came crashing down to earth, as the Jets stumbled and face-planted their way to a bitterly disappointing 5-12 record.
In a season that defied logic, the star-studded Jets – featuring Rodgers, Davante Adams, Breece Hall, and other big names – repeatedly squandered leads, drew an avalanche of penalty flags, and failed to score 30 points in all but two games. Six losses came in games they were favored. It was an underachievement of epic proportions.
Coaching Carousel Compounds Struggles
The downward spiral accelerated in Week 5 when head coach Robert Saleh was fired after a 2-3 start. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich stepped in as interim coach, but players said the shocking dismissal cracked the team’s foundation. Ulbrich, in his first stint as a head coach at any level, was forced to juggle defensive play-calling duties with game management – a balancing act he admittedly struggled with at times.
General manager Joe Douglas was shown the door a month later, casting further uncertainty on the franchise’s direction. The constant coaching and front office turnover proved too much turbulence for even a veteran squad to overcome.
Discipline and Details Doom Jets
Beyond the sideline instability, the 2024 Jets simply beat themselves far too often. Their 137 accepted penalties set a franchise record and ranked worst in the NFL. In one astounding sequence, they were flagged six times in a five-minute span. Players admitted cohesion was lacking despite the talent on hand.
“We did a lot of things the right way off the field, but just as a team on the field, I don’t think we were really able to come together as a complete team. The whole-team aspect just wasn’t there. It just didn’t click.”
– Jets cornerback Isaiah Oliver
Untimely mistakes and missed assignments plagued the Jets in crunch time. They set another dubious franchise mark by losing six games in which they led entering the fourth quarter. Closing out opponents proved a skill that eluded them.
Offensive Inconsistency Leaves More Questions Than Answers
Even the arrival of Rodgers and his favorite target Davante Adams couldn’t jumpstart the Jets’ offense. Rodgers averaged 254 passing yards over the final five games, but most of that production came in garbage time after the team had been eliminated from playoff contention.
Curiously, the Jets seemed to forget they had rising star running back Breece Hall on the roster. Hall never registered 20 carries in a game as the offense became arguably the most pass-happy attack in the league, especially in the red zone. The run-pass balance was out of whack all season.
Predictably, Rodgers hero ball led to diminishing returns. Of his 28 touchdown passes, 11 came from inside the 5-yard line. There were whispers that the 41-year-old Rodgers was audibling out of runs and into passes to pursue the 500 career TD milestone (which he did reach in the season finale).
Aging Roster Betrays Super Bowl Ambitions
The Jets gambled by constructing their roster around aging stars at key positions. Those bets backfired spectacularly, as linebacker C.J. Mosley (32) and left tackle Tyron Smith (34) missed a combined 20 games due to neck injuries. Their absences were felt on and off the field.
Prized free agent acquisition Haason Reddick’s summer-long contract holdout cast a shadow over the entire campaign. Signed to a big-money deal to upgrade the pass rush, Reddick skipped offseason workouts and the first six games in a contract dispute. When he finally reported in October, the former All-Pro didn’t record a sack and made little impact.
“It’s like he wasn’t even on the team.”
– Anonymous Jets player on Haason Reddick
The Reddick debacle epitomized the Jets’ 2024 season – big names and big talent failing to deliver big results. A team with multiple potential Hall of Famers and a treasure trove of Pro Bowl-caliber players imploded despite its promise.
Long Road Back to Respectability
The 5-12 faceplant extended the Jets’ playoff drought to a major American sports-worst 14 seasons. A once-promising year ended with the team holding a top-10 draft pick yet again. The franchise remains stuck in a perpetual rebuild.
Whoever takes over as head coach and general manager will inherit a roster in flux and a culture in disarray. Bridging the chasm between hype and on-field production must be priority number one.
As receiver Davante Adams noted, assembling talent is only half the battle:
“You can win games, but to be able to establish a winning culture is a different thing. You need guys to buy in and you need a coach that’s able to come in here and win over the players and be somebody that holds everybody accountable.”
– Davante Adams
The 2024 Jets were proof that talent alone doesn’t guarantee success in the NFL. Accountability, discipline, and cohesion are equally vital ingredients. Until the Jets discover that winning formula, their championship dreams will remain grounded.
