- 1960
- 1962
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New York Team Formation
The history of the New York Jets American football team began in 1959 with the founding of the Titans of New York, an original member of the American Football League (AFL). The team had little success in its early years. Harry Wismer, representing the city of New York at the meeting, proclaimed the state was ready for another professional football ... -
Financial Problems for the Titans
He secured the Titans’ home field at the decrepit Polo Grounds, where the team struggled financially and on the field during its first three years. By 1962, the debt continued to mount for Wismer, forcing the AFL to assume the costs of the team until the season’s end. A five-man syndicate, headed by Sonny Werblin, saved the team from certain ...
History of the Titans
The team was founded in 1959 as the Titans of New York, an original member of the American Football League (AFL); later, the franchise joined the NFL in the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. The team began to play in 1960 at the Polo Grounds and are now the New York Jets.
Wismer agreed to sell the team but attempted to prevent the sale with a bankruptcy filing. He contended that the move into Shea Stadium would lead to sufficient revenue to make the team profitable. A bankruptcy referee granted the league the authority to sell the team to a five-man syndicate composed of David A. "Sonny" Werblin, Townsend B. Martin, Leon Hess, Donald C. Lillis, and Philip H. Iselin. The sale of the team was approved by a court on March 15 and completed on March 28, 1963. The sale price was $1 million.
On April 15, 1963, the team named Wilbur "Weeb" Ewbank as their head coach and general manager. Ewbank had won back-to-back NFL championships in 1958 and 1959 with the Baltimore Colts and was one of the most respected coaches in the game. The Colts had fired Ewbank in favor of Don Shula, an untested 33-year-old. The team's colors were changed to green and white.
Established
1960
City
New York
League History
1970 - Present / National Football League
1960 - 1969 / American Football League
Team History
1963 - Present / New York Jets
1960 - 1962 / Titans of New York
Nickname
Titans - "Titans of New York" is another name for giants. New owner Werblin also announced a new name for his team, the Jets, which had been selected from among 500 candidates submitted by "friends, enemies, and advertising agencies." The name was chosen over Dodgers, Borros, and Gothams. One of the few team nickname that does not have the city first trailed by the nickname.
Championship
Super Bowl 0
1968
AFL Championships 0
Stadium
2011 - Present / MetLife Stadium
2010 / New Meadowlands Stadium
1984 - 2010 / Giants Stadium
1964 - 1983 / Shea Stadium
1960 - 1963 / Polo Grounds
Owner
2000 - Present / Woody Johnson
1999 - 2000 / Estate of Leon Hess
1977 - 1999 / Leon Hess
1964 - 1977 / Leon Hess, Sonny Werblin, Phil Iselin
1960 - 1964 / Harry Wismer
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
12 / Joe Namath
13 / Don Maynard
28 / Curtis Martin
73 / Joe Klecko
90 / Dennis Byrd
– / Weeb Ewbank
*Blue is this team’s history