Jets are losing even in the offseason: Ranking NFL's longest playoff droughts by whether they can end in 2026
Why it matters: The Jets' 15-season playoff drought is the longest active streak in North American professional sports.
- The New York Jets have the longest active playoff drought in North American professional sports at 15 seasons, surpassing the Buffalo Sabres.
- The NFL is designed for parity, making the Jets' prolonged drought of 15 seasons particularly unusual.
- Four NFL teams currently have the longest active playoff droughts: the Jets (15 seasons), Falcons (8 seasons), Colts (5 seasons), and Saints (5 seasons).
- The Jets are ranked last among these four teams for their chances of ending their drought this year, largely due to retaining coach Aaron Glenn despite a 4-13 record, a different approach than other teams that made the playoffs after similar records.
The New York Jets now hold the unenviable title of the longest active playoff drought in North American professional sports, reaching 15 seasons after the Buffalo Sabres ended their 14-season dry spell. Despite the NFL's design for parity, the Jets have defied expectations by consistently failing to improve, making their sustained poor performance almost impressive.
