1999 New York Jets season

The 1999 New York Jets season was the 40th season for the team, and the 30th in the National Football League. The team tried to maintain or improve upon its 12–4 record from 1998, a season where the Jets won the AFC East and ended the season with a loss in the AFC Championship Game. Bill Parcells returned for his third year as Jets head coach, entering the year with a 21-11 record with the team.

In the opening game of the season against the New England Patriots, the Jets sustained two major injuries that cast a pall on the remainder of the season. First, starting quarterback Vinny Testaverde suffered a ruptured Achilles' tendon and was lost for the year. Later in the game, starting running back and kick returner Leon Johnson tore two ligaments in his knee and like Testaverde was forced to miss the remaider of the season.

Due to Testaverde's injury the Jets were forced to use three different quarterbacks during the season. Parcells initially used punter Tom Tupa, who had begun his career as a quarterback, to replace Testaverde in the opening game against the Patriots but pulled him before the end of the game in favor of Rick Mirer, a former first round draft pick from 1993 who had not played a down since 1997. Parcells acquired Mirer in a trade with the Green Bay Packers during the of season and made room for Mirer by trading Glenn Foley, a popular Jet backup, to the Seattle Seahawks. That move was roundly criticized by New York media, especially when Mirer only won one of his first five starts. Parcells finally benched Mirer after the team's seventh game; although Mirer led the Jets to a victory over the Arizona Cardinals, he only managed five touchdown passes in six starts with nine interceptions.

With the team at 2–6 and entering a Monday night matchup with the 6-2 Patriots, Parcells called on his last remaining quarterback, Ray Lucas, to lead the team. Parcells reminded the Jets that a seventh loss would most likely eliminate them from playoff contention and warned his players to avoid it. The Jets won the rematch with the Patriots, which helped send them to a 6-2 finish, and followed that up with a win over the 7-3 Buffalo Bills to move their record to 4-6. However, the Jets suffered their seventh loss in their next game by losing to the eventual division champion Indianapolis Colts 13-6, and one week later were eliminated from the playoffs altogether with a loss to their in-stadium rivals, the New York Giants,.41-28, in a game that Parcells later described as one of the worst losses of his career.^[1]

Despite being eliminated, the Jets continued on and won their remaining four games to finish with an even record. Two of the wins came against the Miami Dolphins, who were in the midst of a 1-5 finish to their season after starting 8-2. The Jets also beat the Dallas Cowboys, recording their final victory in Texas Stadium, and the Seattle Seahawks, who won the AFC West in 1999.

Parcells announced his retirement shortly after the season concluded and announced that defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, who had been his designated successor, would take over. However, Belichick decided shortly after taking the position that he no longer wanted it and instead chose to become the head coach of the Patriots. Thus, Parcells promoted linebackers coach Al Groh to replace him while he stayed on for an additional year in the front office.

1999 was also the last season that the Jets were under the ownership of the Hess family. Owner Leon Hess died before the season began and, per his directive, the team was to be sold after his death. The process for vetting potential buyers proceeded during the entire season and shortly after it concluded, the winning buyer was revealed as Johnson & Johnson heir Woody Johnson.

Regular season

Schedule

Standings

References

External links

• 1999 team stats

New York Jets Founded in 1960 Based in East Rutherford, New Jersey Headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey The Franchise Franchise History Seasons Players Coaches Logos and Uniforms First-round draft picks Quarterbacks Broadcasters Flight Crew Stadiums Polo Grounds Shea Stadium Giants Stadium MetLife Stadium Culture American Football League Fireman Ed West Side Stadium Rivalries New England Patriots Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins New York Giants Lore Heidi Game The Guarantee New York Sack Exchange Clock Play The Monday Night Miracle Spygate The Butt Fumble Key Personnel Owner: Woody Johnson General Manager: Mike Maccagnan Head Coach: Todd Bowles League Championships (1) 1968 AFL Championship (1) 1968 Division Championships (4) 1968 1969 1998 2002 Super Bowl (1) 1968 (III) Retired Numbers 12 13 28 73 90 Weeb Current League Affiliations League: National Football League Conference: American Football Conference Division: East Division Radio: WEPN, WEPN-FM   Seasons (56) 1960s – 1970s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s – 1990s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s – 2010s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Book:New York Jets