For a 3-11 football team, with little going right at any point during this particular season, the New York Jets do have things going for them—even if the fanbase doesn’t exactly see it that way.
Fans have watched the Jets miss the playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons and have endured 10 years of losing football. Until either of those truths changes, optimism will be scarce around Florham Park, NJ.
That being said, there are things the fanbase should feel optimistic about as we near the final three games of the NFL season. Five things, in particular, stand out for Gang Green in the month of December.
Reasons for Jets fan optimism
For this exercise, we aren’t going to be focused on what has gone wrong for the Jets all year. Analysts have discussed it consistently over the past few months.
Instead, we’ll point out five reasons why the organization has reason to feel good. From offseason resources to an improving coaching staff, alongside a talented young core, there’s reason to keep hope alive.
This holds true even for the fans who have checked out a while back.
5. Playing with house money
Seriously, how worse can it get? New York is 3-11, and the organization has already shown it wants to move its sights to the 2026 season. With each loss, the team improves its 2026 NFL draft stock.
A win against the Buffalo Bills or New England Patriots (the final two games of the season) could be an encouraging step forward for a team that never wins AFC East games.
Either way, the team is playing with house money.
4. Offseason outlook is strong
Even with extensions given out, the Jets are penciled to have over $90 million in cap space this offseason and four draft selections in the top 50 overall picks in April.
That sheer level of incremental assets means the Jets will look a lot different in 2026, but in the best way possible. So long as they’re smart with contracts dished out and can locate top prospects, the team will be much better next season with a new core to the roster.
3. Top players will be healthy in 2026
Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and Jermaine Johnson have not been playing at 100% all year. Wilson has been out since a knee injury knocked him out in October (save for a brief comeback attempt against Cleveland).
While the core still has plenty to prove, the fact that the Jets aren’t overwhelmingly putting players in harm’s way to end the year, shows that the team expects everyone to be healthy for the start of offseason activities.
That would be a massive win for the franchise as well.
2. The most essential coaches are improving
The most essential coaches on this Jets staff, outside of head coach Aaron Glenn, of course, are the offensive play-caller and offensive line coach—Tanner Engstrand and Steve Heiden. Both positions were major weaknesses for the team in recent years.
That has not been the case this season. New York’s offensive line has been the strongest part of their team all year, and their offensive game plan and philosophy have been very effective.
Even Glenn has begun to improve in terms of in-game management.
This staff should improve with another year and with better players. That makes things exciting for the Jets in 2026.
1. Young players standing out
The most important thing the Jets need to see in the final three games is improvement from their young core. Throughout the season, they have received solid production from that core.
They need to see more of it.
From their two offensive tackles, who are proving to be stalwarts, to their young pass catchers like Mason Taylor, AD Mitchell, and even John Metchie, the Jets have a lot of young talent that needs to show out in the final few weeks.
If they can continue to produce at that level, the fanbase should at least have something to look forward to next season.
