| Team: | New York Jets |
| Year: | 1980 |
| Record: | 4–12 |
| Division Place: | 5th AFC East |
| Coach: | Walt Michaels |
| Owner: | Leon Hess |
| Stadium: | Shea Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | T Marvin Powell |
| Shortnavlink: | Jets seasons |
The 1980 New York Jets season was the 21st season for the franchise and its eleventh in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 8–8 record from 1979 under head coach Walt Michaels, and being widely predicted to improve further and reach the postseason for the first time since 1969.[1] The Jets finished the season with a record of 4–12.
During the season, the Jets were the only team to lose to the notorious New Orleans Saints team, dubbed the “Aints”. On a day with a wind-chill temperature of 5F and kicking with a gale of 46mph, the Jets failed to hold on to a 13–7 lead after three quarters,[2] losing by a single point, 21–20.
History repeated itself 11 years later, when the Jets lost 28–27 at home to the Indianapolis Colts, the Colts’ lone victory of that season.
See main article: article and 1980 NFL draft. [3]
| Ben Bottone | Linebacker | Rhode Island | |
| Brian Doherty | Running back | Holy Cross | |
| Ed Gallagher | Tackle | Pittsburgh | |
| Mike Gay | Tackle | Kansas |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 7 | Baltimore Colts | L 14–17 | 0–1 | Shea Stadium | 50,777 | ||
| 2 | September 14 | at Buffalo Bills | L 10–20 | 0–2 | Rich Stadium | 65,315 | ||
| 3 | September 21 | San Francisco 49ers | L 27–37 | 0–3 | Shea Stadium | 50,608 | ||
| 4 | September 28 | at Baltimore Colts | L 21–35 | 0–4 | Memorial Stadium | 33,373 | ||
| 5 | October 5 | New England Patriots | L 11–21 | 0–5 | Shea Stadium | 53,604 | ||
| 6 | October 12 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 14–7 | 1–5 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 57,458 | ||
| 7 | October 19 | Seattle Seahawks | L 17–27 | 1–6 | Shea Stadium | 52,496 | ||
| 8 | Miami Dolphins | W 17–14 | 2–6 | Shea Stadium | 53,046 | |||
| 9 | November 2 | at New England Patriots | L 21–34 | 2–7 | Schaefer Stadium | 60,834 | ||
| 10 | November 9 | Buffalo Bills | L 24–31 | 2–8 | Shea Stadium | 45,677 | ||
| 11 | November 16 | at Denver Broncos | L 24–31 | 2–9 | Mile High Stadium | 72,114 | ||
| 12 | November 23 | Houston Oilers | W 31–28 (OT) | 3–9 | Shea Stadium | 52,358 | ||
| 13 | November 30 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 13–38 | 3–10 | Anaheim Stadium | 59,743 | ||
| 14 | December 7 | at Cleveland Browns | L 14–17 | 3–11 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 78,454 | ||
| 15 | December 14 | New Orleans Saints | L 20–21 | 3–12 | Shea Stadium | 38,077 | ||
| 16 | at Miami Dolphins | W 24–17 | 4–12 | Miami Orange Bowl | 41,854 | |||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | ||||||||