The 2016 New York Jets season was the franchise's 47th season in the National Football League, the 57th overall and the second under head coachTodd Bowles. The team failed to improve on their 10–6 record from 2015, and missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, instead finishing 5–11 and dead last in their division.
The Jets waived/injured Kendall James on August 3, 2016.
The Jets waived Terry Williams on August 4, 2016.
Titus Davis left the team on August 6, 2016.
The Jets waived/injured Julien Obioha and placed Chris King on the reserve/did not report list on August 8, 2016.
The Jets waived/injured Matthew Tucker on August 13, 2016.
The Jets waived Anthony Kelly and Christo Bilukidi left the team on August 14, 2016.
The Jets placed Bernard Pierce on injured reserve on August 16, 2016. Pierce was released from the reserve list on August 20, 2016.
The Jets released Deion Barnes, Jesse Davis, Kyle Friend, Shelby Harris, Jarvis Harrison, Ross Martin, Helva Matungulu, Lache Seastrunk, Jason Vander Laan, Kyle Williams and Terry Williams on August 28, 2016.
The Jets waived/injured Dion Bailey, Jake Ceresna and Romar Morris on August 30, 2016.
The Jets released Jeremy Ross and Antone Smith, waived/injured Trevor Reilly and waived Jace Amaro, Tarow Barney, Freddie Bishop III, Tommy Bohanon, Taiwan Jones, Bryson Keeton, Mike Liedtke, Doug Middleton, Dee Milliner, Darryl Morris, Claude Pelon, Wes Saxton, Kevin Short, Zach Sudfeld, Kenbrell Thompkins, Craig Watts and Chandler Worthy on September 3, 2016.
The Jets waived Ronald Martin, Dexter McDougle and Dominique Williams and waived/injured Khiry Robinson on September 4, 2016.
The Jets released Matthew Tucker and Trevor Reilly from their injured reserve list and waived Brian Parker from the active roster after he failed his physical on September 6, 2016.
The Jets waived Braedon Bowman on September 13, 2016.
The Jets waived Julian Howsare on September 22, 2016.
Trades
To Jets
The Denver Broncos traded Ryan Clady and their seventh round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft for the Jets' fifth round selection in the 2016 draft on April 10, 2016.
Practice squad
Arrivals
The Jets signed Craig Watts, Claude Pelon, Myles White, Freddie Bishop III, Bryson Keeton and Doug Middleton on September 4, 2016.
The Jets signed Dexter McDougle, Ronald Martin, Dominique Williams and Raheem Mostert on September 6, 2016.
The Jets signed Victor Ochi and Wendall Williams on September 12, 2016.
The Jets signed Braedon Bowman on September 19, 2016.
The Jets signed Julian Howsare on September 24, 2016.
Departures
The Jets waived Raheem Mostert and Myles White on September 12, 2016.
The Jets waived Claude Pelon on September 19, 2016.
Free agents
Draft
Notes
The Jets traded their fifth-round selection to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Denver's seventh-round selection and offensive tackle Ryan Clady.
The Jets traded their seventh-round selection to the Houston Texans in exchange for quarterbackRyan Fitzpatrick; the selection was upgraded to a sixth-rounder as a result of Fitzpatrick's playing time with the Jets in 2015.
The Jets traded their 2017 fourth-round selection to the Washington Redskins in exchange for their 2016 fifth-round selection, which they used to select Brandon Shell.
Schedule
Preseason
Regular season
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Division
Conference
Staff
Final roster
Regular season results
Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Jets held a 22–20 lead going into the final minute, but Mike Nugent kicked the game-winning field goal for the Bengals with 54 seconds remaining. With the loss, the Jets started 0–1. This was also their first home loss to the Bengals since 1981.
Week 2: at Buffalo Bills
The Jets broke their five-game losing streak against the Bills as well as their losing streak on Thursday Night Football. The win was also the 400th career win in the franchise's history.
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a season high six interceptions in the loss. The Jets turned the ball over eight times as a team total. This was the first time the Jets turned it over 6+ times since 1976 against the Bengals.
Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks
With the loss, the Jets fell to 1-3.
Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers
With the loss, the Jets fell to 1-4. They also fell to 1-10 all time in Pittsburgh.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was benched midway through the fourth quarter in favor of Geno Smith as the Jets fell to 1–5 on the season. This was the Jets' first loss to the Cardinals since 1975, when the Cardinals were based in St. Louis.
Week 7: vs. Baltimore Ravens
With the win, the Jets went to 2-5 and picked up their first home win of 2016.
With the heartbreaking loss, the Jets fell to 3-8.
Week 13: vs. Indianapolis Colts
With the huge loss, the Jets fell to 3–9, and were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention for the sixth consecutive season. It was the Jets' first loss to the Colts since the 2009 AFC Championship Game.
With the win, the Jets improved to 4-9. They also improved to 3-10 all time against the 49ers.
Week 15: vs. Miami Dolphins
With the loss, the Jets fell to 4–10 and were swept by the Dolphins for the first time since 2009.
Week 16: at New England Patriots
With the loss, the Jets fell to 4–11. They were also given their worst defeat since losing 49–9 to Cincinnati in 2013 and their worst loss to the Patriots since 2012.
Week 17: vs. Buffalo Bills
With the win, the Jets finished their season at 5-11.
