| Team: | New York Jets |
| Year: | 1976 |
| Record: | 3–11 |
| Division Place: | 4th AFC East |
| Coach: | Lou Holtz (resigned following Week 13, 3–10 record Mike Holovak (interim, 0–1 record) |
| Owner: | Leon Hess |
| Stadium: | Shea Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | None |
| Shortnavlink: | Jets seasons |
The 1976 New York Jets season was the seventeenth season for the team and the seventh in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 3–11 record from 1975 under new head coach Lou Holtz. The Jets again finished with a record of 3–11, which combined with the resignation of Holtz with one game left in the season to become coach at the University of Arkansas, prompted John Facenda to say about the Jets during the NFL Films highlight film for that season “Perhaps the best thing to say about the 1976 New York Jets season is that it’s over”.
The only teams that the Jets defeated in 1976 were the 2–12 Buffalo Bills (twice) and the 0–14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jets were 0–9 vs. teams with a winning record.
The 1976 season was also the twelfth and final year with the Jets for quarterback Joe Namath.[1]
See main article: article and 1976 NFL draft.
| Jim Rosecrans | Linebacker | Penn State | |
| Howard Satterwhite | Wide Receiver | Sam Houston State |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 12 | at Cleveland Browns | L 17–38 | 0–1 | Cleveland Stadium | 67,496 | ||
| 2 | September 19 | at Denver Broncos | L 3–46 | 0–2 | Mile High Stadium | 62,669 | ||
| 3 | September 29 | at Miami Dolphins | L 0–16 | 0–3 | Miami Orange Bowl | 49,754 | ||
| 4 | October 3 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 6–17 | 0–4 | Candlestick Park | 42,961 | ||
| 5 | October 10 | Buffalo Bills | W 17–14 | 1–4 | Shea Stadium | 59,110 | ||
| 6 | October 18 | at New England Patriots | L 7–41 | 1–5 | Schaefer Stadium | 50,883 | ||
| 7 | October 24 | Baltimore Colts | L 0–20 | 1–6 | Shea Stadium | 59,576 | ||
| 8 | October 31 | at Buffalo Bills | W 19–14 | 2–6 | Rich Stadium | 41,285 | ||
| 9 | November 7 | Miami Dolphins | L 7–27 | 2–7 | Shea Stadium | 53,344 | ||
| 10 | November 14 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 34–0 | 3–7 | Shea Stadium | 46,426 | ||
| 11 | November 21 | New England Patriots | L 24–38 | 3–8 | Shea Stadium | 49,983 | ||
| 12 | November 28 | at Baltimore Colts | L 16–33 | 3–9 | Memorial Stadium | 44,023 | ||
| 13 | December 5 | Washington Redskins | L 16–37 | 3–10 | Shea Stadium | 46,638 | ||
| 14 | December 12 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 3–42 | 3–11 | Shea Stadium | 31,067 | ||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | ||||||||