NFL 2026 Season Preview - NEW YORK JETS

NEW YORK JETS                                                                                                

2025 Record - 3-14-0

Head Coach - Aaron Glenn 

2025 Offensive Rank - 264 YPG (29th); Rushing - 123 YPG (10th), Passing - 141 YPG (32nd) SCORING - 17.6 PPG (29th)

2025 Defensive Rank - 356 YPG (25th); Rushing - 140 YPG (29th), Passing - 216 YPG (17th) SCORING - 29.6 PPG (31st)

Key Player Additions - Demario Davis (LB), Dane Belton (DB), Minkah Fitzpatrick (DB), David Bailey (DL), David Onyemata (DL), Geno Smith (QB), Nashon Wright (DB), T'Vondre Sweat (DL)

Key Player Losses - Tony Adams (DB), Justin Fields (QB), Nick Folk (K), Jermaine Johnson (LB), Quincy Williams (LB), Josh Simpson (OL), Jay Tufele (DL), Tyrod Taylor (QB) 

OFFENSE - Veteran quarterback Geno Smith is back for a second stint with the Jets after passing for 3,025 yards with 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions with the Las Vegas Raiders last year. Backups for Smith in training camp include Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook and rookie Cade Klubnik (Clemson). Breece Hall (1,065 yards, 4.4 YPC, four TD) leads the running game and Isaiah Davis (236, 5.5 YPC, one TD) is also available. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson was limited to seven games with a knee injury last year, but had 36 receptions for 395 yards and four touchdowns. Adonai Mitchell caught 33 passes for 453 yards and two scores and rookie Omar Cooper, Jr. (Indiana). The tight end is Mason Taylor, who had 44 receptions for 369 yards and one touchdown. 

DEFENSE - Will McDonald IV (eight QB sacks), T'Vondre Sweat, rookie David Bailey (Texas Tech) and David Onyemata are the main players on the line. The linebackers include Jamien Sherwood (team leading 154 tackles), Demario Davis (143 tackles with New Orleans) and Kiko Mauigoa. In the secondary are cornerbacks Brandon Stephens, Azareye'h Thomas and D'Angelo Ponds. The safeties are Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dane Belton (100 tackles with New York Giants), Andre Cisco and Keidron Smith. In the 2025 season, the Jets defense had ZERO interceptions and just 26 sacks, which led to a league worst minus-19 in turnovers.  

2026 SEASON OUTLOOK - Head Coach Aaron Glenn is already rumored to be on the "hot seat" after just one season in The Big Apple as the team struggled to a 3-14 record, allowing the most points in pro football, which included 30-plus allowed eight times last season. The team was at or near the bottom of the NFL defensively, except for passing, where they were 17th ranked, but for the first time ever, the Jets became the only team to not have any interceptions for the season. Glenn came on board for his defensive prowess, so they are looking for big time improvement this season. 

On offense, the Jets didn't fair much better, finishing 29th overall and dead last in passing, averaging a paltry 140 yards per game. That is where QB Geno Smith comes in to lead the offense to hopefully better expectations in the upcoming season. Running back Breece Hall was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2025, but he needs to get that burst back that made him so dangerous in his first two seasons. The wide receivers need a shot in the arm as well health wise after losing top man Garrett Wilson to a knee injury. With Wilson back in tow, Smith has a premier target to throw to as well as Hall out of the backfield. The line has to do their part as well after allowing 60 sacks last year. 

All in all, this season has the looks of an uphill battle, but the team should win more than three games. Playing in the AFC East division means facing Buffalo and New England twice and the Jets will also face the AFC West and NFC North teams, which appear to be two of the better divisions in the NFL. The Jets should avoid the basement in the AFC East this season as Miami is going through a rebuild, but they have to prove on the field they can do better this season. It won't be easy, but if the Jets can show improvement on both offense and defense, the future will look a lot brighter after the disaster they experienced a year ago.   

TEAM SCHEDULE 

Week One - at Tennessee 

Week Two - vs. Green Bay 

Week Three - at Detroit 

Week Four - at Chicago 

Week Five - vs. Cleveland 

Week Six - at New England 

Week Seven - vs. Miami 

Week Eight - vs. Las Vegas 

Week Nine - at Kansas City 

Week Ten - vs. Buffalo 

Week Eleven - at L.A. Chargers 

Week Twelve - at Miami 

Week Thirteen - BYE 

Week Fourteen - vs. Denver 

Week Fifteen - at Arizona 

Week Sixteen - vs. New England 

Week Seventeen - vs. Minnesota 

Week Eighteen - at Buffalo