1971 New York Jets season

The 1971 New York Jets season was the twelfth season for the team and the second in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 4–10 record from 1970 under head coach Weeb Ewbank.

1971 New York Jets season
OwnerLeon Hess
Head coachWeeb Ewbank
Home fieldShea Stadium
Results
Record6–8
Division place3rd AFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersT Winston Hill

Disaster struck before the regular season started and the Jets finished 6–8. Joe Namath was injured in a preseason game against the Detroit Lions and required knee surgery, All-Pro WR George Sauer unexpectedly retired at the peak of his career, and All-Pro defensive end Verlon Biggs exercised his option and signed with the Washington Redskins.

After missing nineteen consecutive Jets games in 1970 and 1971, Namath returned to action against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter (November 28, 1971) and threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns, but was intercepted by Johnny Fuller in the end zone on the final play of a 24–21 loss. He then started the final three games, and the Jets won the last two after suffering a 52–10 loss in a nationally televised game to the eventual Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys.

Offseason

NFL Draft
1971 New York Jets Draft
RoundPick #OverallNamePositionCollege
166John RigginsRunning backKansas
2632John MooringTackleTampa
3658Chris FarasopoulosDefensive backBYU
4684Bill ZapalacLinebackerTexas
66136Phil WiseTight endNebraska-Omaha
76162Scott PalmerDefensive tackleTexas
86188Roy KirkseyGuardMaryland State
96214John CurtisTight endSpringfield
106240Jim BettisDefensive backMichigan
116266Vernon StuddardWide receiverMississippi
126292Rich SowellsDefensive backAlcorn
136318John EggoldDefensive endArizona
146344John HarpringGuardMichigan
156370Dan DychesCenterSouth Carolina
166396Steve HarkeyRunning backGeorgia Tech
176422Greg FlaskaDefensive endWestern Michigan

Roster
1971 New York Jets final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad

  • Currently vacant


Rookies in italics
 , 0 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 19 at Baltimore Colts L 0–22 0–1 Memorial Stadium 56,458 Recap
2 September 27 at St. Louis Cardinals L 10–17 0–2 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,358 Recap
3 October 3 at Miami Dolphins W 14–10 1–2 Miami Orange Bowl 70,670 Recap
4 October 10 at New England Patriots L 0–20 1–3 Schaefer Stadium 61,357 Recap
5 October 17 Buffalo Bills W 28–17 2–3 Shea Stadium 61,948 Recap
6 October 24 Miami Dolphins L 14–30 2–4 Shea Stadium 62,130 Recap
7 October 31 at San Diego Chargers L 21–49 2–5 San Diego Stadium 44,786 Recap
8 November 7 Kansas City Chiefs W 13–10 3–5 Shea Stadium 62,812 Recap
9 November 14 Baltimore Colts L 13–14 3–6 Shea Stadium 63,947 Recap
10 November 21 at Buffalo Bills W 20–7 4–6 War Memorial Stadium 41,577 Recap
11 November 28 San Francisco 49ers L 21–24 4–7 Shea Stadium 63,936 Recap
12 December 4 at Dallas Cowboys L 10–52 4–8 Texas Stadium 66,689 Recap
13 December 12 New England Patriots W 13–6 5–8 Shea Stadium 63,175 Recap
14 December 19 Cincinnati Bengals W 35–21 6–8 Shea Stadium 63,151 Recap
  • Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings
AFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Miami Dolphins 10 3 1 .769 5–3 7–3–1 315 174 W1
Baltimore Colts 10 4 0 .714 6–2 8–3 313 140 L1
New England Patriots 6 8 0 .429 4–4 6–5 238 325 W1
New York Jets 6 8 0 .429 4–4 6–5 212 299 W2
Buffalo Bills 1 13 0 .071 1–7 1–10 184 394 L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

[1]

References
  1. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 297
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