1999 New York Jets season explained

Team:New York Jets
Year:1999
Record:8–8
Division Place:T-4th AFC East
Owner:Estate of Leon Hess
Coach:Bill Parcells
Stadium:Giants Stadium
Playoffs:Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers:C Kevin Mawae
WR Keyshawn Johnson
LB Mo Lewis
P Tom Tupa
Uniform:Jets uniforms12.png
Shortnavlink:Jets seasons

The 1999 New York Jets season was the 40th season for the team, the 30th in the National Football League (NFL) and the third year and final year under Bill Parcells and 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.

The Jets failed to improve upon their 12–4 record from 1998, when the Jets won the AFC East and ended the season with a loss in the AFC Championship Game and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1997. The team dealt with several devastating injuries to starters. Starting quarterback Vinny Testaverde suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the season opener against the New England Patriots, costing him the entire season. Starting running back Leon Johnson tore two knee ligaments in the same game and was also lost for the season.

Due to Testaverde’s injury, the Jets were forced to use three different quarterbacks during the season. Parcells 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 in favor of Rick Mirer. Parcells acquired Mirer in a trade with the Green Bay Packers during the offseason and made room for Mirer by trading Glenn Foley to the Seattle Seahawks. After a 2–6 start to the season, Parcells went in another direction and replaced Mirer with third-stringer Ray Lucas, who won six of his eight starts to bring the team to an 8–8 finish.

Parcells announced his retirement shortly after the 1999 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 after they had parted with head coach Pete Carroll. Thus, Parcells promoted linebackers coach Al Groh to replace him while he stayed on for an additional year in the front office.

Offseason

NFL draft

See main article: 1999 NFL draft.

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1September 12New England PatriotsL 28–300–1Giants StadiumRecap
2September 19at Buffalo BillsL 3–170–2Ralph Wilson StadiumRecap
3September 26Washington RedskinsL 20–270–3Giants StadiumRecap
4October 3at Denver BroncosW 21–131–3Mile High StadiumRecap
5Jacksonville JaguarsL 6–161–4Giants StadiumRecap
6October 17Indianapolis ColtsL 13–161–5Giants StadiumRecap
7October 24at Oakland RaidersL 23–241–6Network Associates ColiseumRecap
8Bye
9November 7Arizona CardinalsW 12–72–6Giants StadiumRecap
10at New England PatriotsW 24–173–6Foxboro StadiumRecap
11November 21Buffalo BillsW 17–74–6Giants StadiumRecap
12November 28at Indianapolis ColtsL 6–134–7RCA DomeRecap
13December 5at New York GiantsL 28–414–8Giants StadiumRecap
14December 12Miami DolphinsW 28–205–8Giants StadiumRecap
15December 19at Dallas CowboysW 22–216–8Texas StadiumRecap
16at Miami DolphinsW 38–317–8Pro Player StadiumRecap
17January 2Seattle SeahawksW 19–98–8Giants StadiumRecap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

External links