History of The New York Jets

February 29, In with the New

The Jets made aggressive roster moves once the unrestricted free agency period began. They signed perennial Pro Bowl G Alan Faneca, OT Damien Woody, LB Calvin Pace, Pro Bowl FB Tony Richardson and TE Bubba Franks as free agents and traded with Carolina for DT Kris Jenkins. They also traded two former first-round picks, LB Jonathan Vilma (to New Orleans) and DT Dewayne Robertson (to Denver) (Feb. 29-April 25).

August 6, Brett the Jet

Brett Favre wanted to unretire and for the longest time the Jets were on the periphery of talks with Green Bay to trade the NFL legend. Then suddenly things came together and GM Mike Tannenbaum struck a trade with Packers GM Ted Thompson that brought the NFL's all-time touchdown passing leader (and interception leader) to the Jets for a conditional draft pick. Favre made his Green & White debut in the second preseason game at home vs. the Redskins (Aug. 16) and his regular-season debut in the 20-14 victory over the Dolphins at Miami (Sept. 7).

September 28, Piles of Points

The Jets enjoyed two home offensive explosions that they've rarely seen in their history. In Game 4 they stopped the Super Bowl-bound Arizona Cardinals, 56-35, as Favre threw six touchdown passes to tie his career best and Joe Namath's franchise record (Sept. 28). In Game 9 they opened a franchise-record 40-0 first-half lead en route to a 47-3 wipeout of the St. Louis Rams (Nov. 9).

November 2, Road Rage

Also enabling the Green & White to get off to their 8-3 start was the best three-game road stretch in franchise history. They trimmed the Bills (5-2 coming in), 26-17, at Buffalo (Nov. 2). Two weeks later they went to New England on Thursday night and outdueled the Patriots (6-3), 34-31, winning on Jay Feely's OT field goal (Nov. 13). Finally, they knocked out the Titans (10-0), the NFL's last unbeaten team, by 34-13 at Tennessee (Nov. 23).

December 21, Futile Finish

Despite the pyrotechnics and promise of the first 11 games, the Jets finished at 9-7 and out of the playoffs by losing four of their last five. The 13-3 loss at snowy Seattle (Dec. 21) virtually sealed their fate. Needing wins by either Buffalo over New England or Jacksonville over Baltimore, then their own win at home over Miami, they were eliminated from the playoffs when both the Patriots and Ravens won, then fell to the 'Fins, 24-17 (Dec. 28).

December 29, Exit Eric

The day after their 2008 season ended, owner Woody Johnson and GM Mike Tannenbaum held a news conference to announce that Eric Mangini would not return after three seasons as the Jets head coach. He left with a 23-26 record, including a loss in his only playoff appearance after the 2006 season (Dec. 29).