The New York Jets are a well-known NFL franchise with more than 67 seasons of history. Over that long stretch, however, the team has captured just one Super Bowl championship. The Jets regular-season record of 436–573–8 reflects inconsistent success.
The Jets have also made 14 postseason appearances, posting an overall playoff record of 12 wins and 13 losses. Throughout their history, the franchise has experienced plenty of ups and downs. Still, the Jets remain the Jets, always pushing forward and aiming for the promised land. They soar through the sky, but why did the team choose the name Jets?
To answer that question, the team did not originally go by the name Jets. The franchise began as the Titans of New York, founded by a young businessman named Harry Wismer. Wismer chose the name “Titans” to compete directly with the New York Giants, believing it sounded bigger, stronger, and more powerful. The name reflected his desire to establish a team that could stand toe-to-toe with one of the NFL’s most established franchises.
During Harry Wismer’s tenure, financial struggles forced him to sell the franchise in 1963. Soon after, a group of five investors led by Sonny Werblin purchased the team and renamed it the Jets. They chose the new name partly because it rhymed with the New York Mets, helping the team fit into New York’s growing sports scene.
The Jets also shared a stadium with the Mets at Shea Stadium. The team adopted green and white as its uniform colors because Sonny Werblin was born on St. Patrick’s Day. In addition, Werblin chose the name “Jets” because the team played near LaGuardia Airport, where planes constantly flew overhead, reinforcing the connection to speed, flight, and modern New York.
The New York Jets are a unique franchise in the NFL. Throughout their history, changes in identity from one name to another reflect how much the team has evolved over time. While the franchise still has a long way to go to return to the success it experienced more than 60 years ago, the potential remains. The Jets already have the wings to fly; now they just need to keep flying higher to reach where they want to be.
