The New York Jets are a professional football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. They are members of the National Football League (NFL) as part of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the AFC East division. Founded in 1960, the Jets have played home games at MetLife Stadium (located in East Rutherford) since 2010. In a unique arrangement, the Jets share the stadium with the New York Giants.
The Jets hold the distinction of being the first AFL team to defeat an NFL club in an AFL-NFL World Championship Game when they defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
In head-to-head games against the Green Bay Packers, the Jets hold the distinction as one of two NFL franchises to beat the Packers in terms of winning percentage, as well as the only team the Packers have not won consecutive home games against. Since 1973, in 14 head-to-head contests, the Jets hold a 9-5 lead.
The first organizational meeting of the American Football League (AFL) took place on August 14, 1959. Harry Wismer, representing New York at the meeting, proclaimed the state was ready for another professional football team and was granted the charter franchise that was later named the Titans of New York. By 1962, Wismer's mounting debt forced the AFL to assume the costs of the team until seasons end. Sonny Werblin took over the franchise in 1963, and changed the team name to New York Jets to reflect the modern approach of his team and the star-studded performances he hoped his team would produce.
Despite pressure building in 1968 for the team, the Jets finished 11–3 to take the AFL East division. In the playoffs, the Jets defeated the Oakland Raiders for the AFL Championship at Shea Stadium, 27–23, a game in which Joe Namath threw three touchdowns, including the game winner to Don Maynard with less than two minutes left.
Despite coming in as huge underdogs against the 15–1 Baltimore Colts, Namath delivered on his "guarantee" by directed an 80–yard scoring drive capped by a four-yard touchdown run by Matt Snell, then set-up three successful field goals tries that pushed New York to a 16–7 victory. Namath was named Super Bowl MVP, completing 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards.
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