The New York Jets’ playoff hopes officially ended Sunday after a 32-26 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins, marking their 14th consecutive season without a postseason appearance. This extended streak is now the longest active playoff drought in North American professional sports. What was supposed to be a transformative season following the blockbuster acquisition of Aaron Rodgers has instead become another chapter in the Jets’ long history of frustration.
High Hopes Dashed Early
The arrival of Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP, was meant to signal a new era for the Jets. Optimism soared as fans envisioned the team finally breaking free from decades of underachievement.
That hope was shattered just minutes into Rodgers’ debut when he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1. The shocking loss of their star quarterback sent the Jets spiraling, derailing what was expected to be a playoff-contending season.
This year, Rodgers returned to play every game, but his performance has been far from his usual standards. The Jets are currently mired in a four-game losing streak, sitting at 3-10 and tied with the New England Patriots for last place in the AFC East.
Are the Jets Cursed?
The Jets’ persistent misfortune has led to renewed speculation among fans and players alike about whether the franchise is cursed. This sentiment gained traction earlier this week when wide receiver Davante Adams, appearing on Kay Adams’ show Up and Adams, half-jokingly suggested the team might be under a hex.
Rodgers echoed the sentiment during a Wednesday media session, saying, “I mean, it might be something like that. It might be some sort of curse we’ve got to snap as well.”
These remarks struck a chord with long-suffering Jets fans, many of whom have long suspected that bad luck, mismanagement, or both have doomed the team. The Jets’ last taste of true success came in 1969 when Joe Namath famously guaranteed a Super Bowl III victory over the Baltimore Colts. Since then, the team has only reached the AFC Championship four times and has never returned to the NFL’s biggest stage.
Rodgers’ Own Playoff Struggles
Ironically, Rodgers has faced his own version of the Jets’ postseason struggles. After leading the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl victory in February 2011, he has been unable to make it back to the championship game. Rodgers has lost in four NFC Championship Games since then, further fueling the narrative that his postseason career has been defined by near-misses.
What’s Next for the Jets?
The future of both the Jets and Rodgers is now in question. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Rodgers is considered a “long shot” to return to the team for the 2025 season. If Rodgers does move on, the Jets will likely face significant changes, including the potential search for a new head coach, general manager, and quarterback.
This offseason will be crucial for a franchise desperate to end its playoff drought and restore faith among its fan base. Whether the team opts to rebuild or retool around a new centerpiece, the pressure will be immense to deliver results.
RELATED: Aaron Rodgers Shares Wild UFO Conspiracy Theories and Plan to ‘Call Aliens’ on Pat McAfee Show
Breaking the Curse
The idea of a Jets curse has become a rallying cry for fans looking to make sense of decades of futility. From the infamous “Butt Fumble” to the repeated inability to develop a franchise quarterback, the team’s history is littered with moments that feel almost supernatural in their misfortune.
Breaking that cycle will require more than luck—it will take a complete organizational reset and a renewed commitment to building a winning culture. Whether Rodgers remains part of that vision or the team moves in a new direction, one thing is certain: the Jets must find a way to rewrite their narrative and finally give their fans something to cheer about.
For now, the Jets’ 14-year playoff drought is a stark reminder of how far the franchise has fallen from the heights of Namath’s guarantee.
Whether they are cursed or not, the path forward will require resilience, strategy, and a bit of the luck that has so often eluded them.
