The 2011 New York Jets season was the franchise's 42nd season in the National Football League (NFL), the 52nd season overall and the team's third season under head coach Rex Ryan.
Despite sitting at 8-5 in early December, controlling their own destiny to make the postseason, the Jets finished at 8–8. The team failed to improve upon their 11–5 record from 2010 and failed to reach the playoffs and the AFC Championship game for the first time since 2008, which had a three-game losing streak to close the season. The Jets' 2011 season, from its NFL lockout-impacted start to the team's losing streak that marked its end was chronicled extensively in Nicholas Dawidoff's 2013 book Collision Low Crossers: A Year Inside the Turbulent World of NFL Football. Beginning in the offseason, Dawidoff embedded himself with the team, primarily with defensive coordinator Mike Pettine and assistants Dennis Thurman and Mike Smith.[1] This season would begin a lengthy postseason drought for the Jets. Since 2011, the team has failed to qualify for the playoffs, with just one winning season from 2011 to 2024.
Transactions
Coaching changes
Strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi tendered his resignation from the team on January 31, 2011.[2] In November 2010, Alosi became embroiled in controversy when he tripped Miami Dolphins' cornerback Nolan Carroll on a punt return that resulted in his suspension from the team.[2] Former Atlanta Falcons' assistant Bill Hughan was hired as the team's new strength and conditioning coach two weeks later on February 14, 2011.[3]
Mike Bloomgren left his assistant offensive coordinator position with the team in February to become the offensive line coach and run coordinator at Stanford.[4]
Former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore was hired as an offensive consultant for the team in July 2011.[5]
Arrivals
September 11 tribute before the Jets' first game, against Dallas at MetLife Stadium
The Jets signed Nick Novak on February 9, 2011, to compete with incumbent kicker Nick Folk.[6]
The Jets announced the addition of ten undrafted free agents on July 27, 2011; Josh Baker, Collin Franklin, Nick Bellore, Stafford Gatling, Michael Campbell, Dan DePalma, Courtney Smith, Tom Ottaiano, Chris Stewart, and Julian Posey.[7]
The Jets announced the addition of six undrafted free agents on July 28, 2011; Byron Landor, Davon Morgan, Zane Taylor, Taylor Boggs, Jeff Wills, and Matthias Berning.[8]
The Jets signed Chris Bryan and undrafted free agents Jeremy McGee and Jake Duron on July 29, 2011.[9]
The Jets released Mark Brunell, Kevin O'Connell, Will Billingsley and Marlon Davis on July 29, 2011.[33] Additionally, the Jets officially released retired quarterback Erik Ainge.[9]
The Jets released Carlos Brown on August 2, 2011.[34]
The Jets released Jerricho Cotchery on August 4, 2011.[35] Additionally, Tom Ottaiano, Jeff Wills and Jeremy McGee were waived.[13]
The Jets released Cody Brown and waived Collin Franklin on August 7, 2011.[15]
The Jets trailed 24-10 heading into the 4th quarter. In the 4th quarter, the Jets scored 17 unanswered points preserving the win for them. With the win, the Jets started their season 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week Two: Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets – Game summary
Hoping to rebound from their Week 3 road loss to the Raiders, the Jets flew to M&T Bank Stadium for a Week 4 Sunday night battle with the Baltimore Ravens, also head coach Rex Ryan's first return to Baltimore since leaving the Ravens following the 2008 season. Ryan served as the Ravens' defensive line coach, defensive coordinator, and assistant head coach from the 1999 to 2008 seasons, and was part of their 2000 Super Bowl-winning squad. New York trailed early in the first quarter with Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain returning a fumble 6 yards for a touchdown. The Jets would respond with running back Joe McKnight returning a kickoff 107 yards for a touchdown. Baltimore would regain the lead with kicker Billy Cundiff getting a 38-yard field goal, followed by running back Ray Rice getting a 3-yard touchdown run. The Ravens added onto their lead in the second quarter with Cundiff making another 38-yard field goal, followed by linebacker Jarret Johnson returning a fumble 26 yards for a touchdown. New York responded with linebacker David Harris returning an interception 36 yards for a touchdown, followed by a 40-yard field goal from kicker Nick Folk. Baltimore came right back in the third quarter with cornerback Lardarius Webb returning an interception 73 yards for a touchdown. From there, the Ravens' defense prevented any comeback attempt.
With the loss, the Jets fell to 2–2.
Week 5: at New England Patriots
Week Five: New York Jets at New England Patriots – Game summary
TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
The Patriots head to MetLife Stadium for a Week 10 Sunday Night game with the Jets. The only time the Jets would lead would be in the 2nd quarter when they led 9–7 but they would get blown out in front of their home crowd 37–16. With the loss, the Jets dropped to 5–4. New York was also swept by New England for the first time since New England's 2007 season.
Week 11: at Denver Broncos
Week Eleven: New York Jets at Denver Broncos – Game summary
The second primetime game in a row for the Jets yet it was a Thursday Night game. The Jets led 13–10 with a little over a minute remaining when Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow marched his team down the field and scored the game-winning touchdown. With the loss, the Jets fell to 5–5 and needing to win some more games to qualify for the playoffs.
Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week Twelve: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets – Game summary
The Jets would come out on top in a seesaw battle over the Buffalo Bills. This time the Jets scored a game-winning touchdown. With the win, the Jets improved to 6-5 continuing on the road to a playoff berth.
Week 13: at Washington Redskins
Week Thirteen: New York Jets at Washington Redskins – Game summary
The Jets would not lead for much of the game until the very end of the 4th quarter when they blew the game wide open. With the win, the Jets improved to 7–5.
Week 14: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week Fourteen: Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets – Game summary
The Jets won easily in a crushing rout, with the final score overstating the closeness of the game as the Chiefs' only touchdown came in garbage time after the game was already decided.[79] The Chiefs offense gained only 4 total yards in the first two quarters. The Chiefs were also plagued with penalties, finishing the game with 11 penalties total. The Jets' final touchdown drive in the third quarter proved to be a particularly humiliating stretch. Starting from their own 10-yard line, the Jets gained 81 penalty yards on 5 penalties committed by the Chiefs, including a rare penalty directly assessed against head coach Todd Haley for unsportsmanlike conduct.[80] The Jets improved to 8–5 and could "control their playoff destiny" at this point in the season, guaranteed to make it to the playoffs by winning the rest of their games.
Week 15: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week Fifteen: New York Jets at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
The Jets would be thoroughly dominated by the Eagles throughout the game. With the loss, the Jets fell to 8–6. The Jets had never beaten the Eagles in franchise history at this point until eventually defeating them in 2023.
Week 16: vs. New York Giants
Week Sixteen: New York Giants at New York Jets – Game summary
Both the Jets and Giants needed a win in order to stay in the playoff race. The Jets (8–6) hosting the Giants (7–7) would battle each other on Christmas Eve, Saturday afternoon edition. The Jets would lead 7–0 early on but the Giants responded and took over the rest of the game. With the loss for the Jets, they fell to 8–7.
Week 17: at Miami Dolphins
Week Seventeen: New York Jets at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
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