Jets eliminated from playoff contention as postseason drought reaches 15 years

The New York Jets have not appeared in a playoff game since the 2010 AFC Championship. They will have to wait at least one more year to snap that drought. With their 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the Jets were officially eliminated from playoff contention, extending their playoff drought to 15 years.

Jets' playoff drought longest active drought in the four major sports

Not only have the Jets missed the playoffs 15 years in a row, but that drought is the longest active drought in the NFL and the longest in the four major North American men's sports leagues.

They entered the season tied with the NHL's Buffalo Sabres at 14 years, and now sole claim on that drought. If it is any consolation for the Jets, they are probably going to have some company in a few months as the Sabres also look likely to extend their playoff drought, entering play on Sunday with the worst record in the NHL's Eastern Conference. 

The Jets are still 10 years away from matching the longest drought in NFL history, which sits at 25 years and is co-owned by Washington (1946-1971) and the St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals (1949-1974).

The Jets have had multiple different general managers, head coaches and starting quarterbacks during this drought and produced the same results. When that happens, you have to start seeking out the common denominator. That common denominator remains owner Woody Johnson.

The Jets will have multiple first-round draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft thanks to the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades. The hope is they can turn those picks, as well as their own pick (which will be at the top of the draft), into the foundation of a team that can end this playoff drought. Their recent history says it may not go as they hope.