Ah, yes, the New York Jets schedule in the post-2012 CBA age. It hits much differently than its predecessors, no matter what some would have you believe.
Those who dig just an extra bit realize just how relevant Woody Johnson’s first 12 seasons were as the big boss man. Taking over in 2000, Woody’s Jets never had consecutive losing seasons, and they failed to make the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns (2007, 2008) only once.
In fact, from Bill Parcells’s arrival in 1997 through the 2010 season, the green team in town posted success that ranked in the upper third of the National Football League. They appeared in three AFC championship games (1998, 2009, 2010), seven postseasons, and even won the AFC East in 2002 — as they did, indeed, “play to win the game.”
Unfortunately, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan as of late. The league’s new CBA in 2012 not only changed the game in irrevocable ways but also marked the start of the most recent long stretch of Jets fan misery.
New York hasn’t experienced playoff action since the 2010 season, and it hasn’t finished a season with a winning record since 2015’s FitzMagic 10-6 wild ride. Oh, the blunt yet long-lasting pain.
Funnily enough, a Jets fan’s formula when making fan-related decisions must take this recent history into consideration. Failing to do so is akin to dripping rookie status and/or blissful ignorance.
Hardened as any fanbase in existence, it’s these fans who know the deal, and it’s why figuring out which New York Jets fan road trips in 2026 are deemed the best.
The Jets fans’ road trip formula: Top considerations
A few considerations must be on the table when deciding which New York Jets fan road trips deserve top billing. Some are run-of-the-mill factors, whereas others address the specific team(s) involved.
The actual game itself is critical, obviously. Does the on-paper matchup feature something that could materialize into a well-played football game?
The city where the game is played is also a major factor. Depending upon a fan’s personality, each city provides its own unique set of positives and negatives for that individual.
The venue is also a worthwhile consideration. The stadium’s backdrop and atmosphere provide fans with a backdrop and atmosphere, creating an environment for memories that may last a lifetime.
Perhaps nothing is as important for the modern New York Jets fan as the time of the season, however. Save for the peculiarly optimistic human, realism screams the idea that catching an early-season game is always the best hand to play.
After all, who wants to watch a JV version of a five-win Jets team while stuck in Orchard Park, N.Y., in early January?
What are the best Jets fan road trips in 2026?
Just missing the cut are as follows:
- Chicago Bears — Week 4
- Los Angeles Chargers — Week 11
- Miami Dolphins — Week 12
- Arizona Cardinals — Week 15
The Chicago Bears game is early enough in the season that, no matter how the Jets play in the first three weeks, the season will still be “alive.” Plus, hey, it’s still Soldier Field, which offers its own unique football gifts to fans.
As far as the others, well, let’s be real: It’s all about the weather. Who wouldn’t want to catch Los Angeles, Miami, and Arizona as the calendar turns to late fall and/or winter?
3. Kansas City Chiefs — Week 9
Get those stomachs ready, because Kansas City brings the BBQ. Andy Reid knows the deal, as do most of the fans around this league.
Watching the greatness of Patrick Mahomes is a perk, and Arrowhead is always a tremendous venue. The placement on the schedule, Week 9, also allows Jets fans a good plan to feel as though the season could still potentially be alive at this point.
Hey, who knows? Perhaps Aaron Glenn and company surprise a few teams early in the season, setting up an important Week 9 clash against the Chiefs, a team still angered by missing the playoffs last season.
2. Detroit Lions — Week 3
The tough call for the top three was deciding between Detroit and Chicago. The two road trips are back-to-back (Week 3 and 4) and are both early-season games that wash away the “irrelevancy” concern from a Jets fan perspective.
The tiebreaker came in the form of vengeance: Aaron Glenn returns home.
Ok, calling it “home” for Glenn is a stretch for the Texas-born baller whose heart is at A&M collegiately, but Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions offered the Jets head coach his first defensive coordinator gig at this level, which he turned into gold.
The city itself isn’t anything to write home about, and the Lions are a talented team, but, like the Chiefs, they’re a squad teetering on the edge of unpredictability in 2026. Which way will they go, back to the playoffs in style, or further declining status?
1. Tennessee Titans — Week 1
By far, the best New York Jets fan road trip this coming season is the Tennessee Titans game. Week 1, on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, is the gold standard for a Jets fan road trip.
The records are squeaky clean, hope and optimism remain intact, Nashville is more than worthy as a city, and Robert Saleh and his former Jets await with a smidge of a smile.
Jermaine Johnson, Solomon Thomas, Tony Adams, John Franklin-Myers, and others are surely already prepping for their former team. Courtesy of the tough Week 2-4 stretch that places three NFC North teams — each of which can snag a film-watching advantage thanks to their intricate knowledge of one another — Week 1 is beyond critical for the 2026 Jets.
Plus, our good friend Jake Asman has chosen this game for The Jake Asman Show’s annual Asmaniac meetup.
There’s little doubt that his process in choosing the show’s annual road trip considered all the factors mentioned above. Last year’s trip also came early in the season, during Week 3, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans is the undisputed champ of New York Jets fan road trips.
