The 2002 season was the New York Jets' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 43rd season overall and their second under head coach Herman Edwards. The team tried to improve upon their 10–6 record from 2001 but failed to do so after a 2–5 start. However, the Jets recovered and finished 9–7, winning their second AFC East division title.
After a 24–21 week 8 loss to the Cleveland Browns at the Meadowlands dropped the Jets' season record to 2–5, head coach Herman Edwards gave his famous "You play to win the game" response to a question in his press conference the following Tuesday. Edwards' vigorous defense of his team's refusal to quit, along with the midseason debut of quarterback Chad Pennington, helped spark the Jets' turnaround.
After posting a stunning rout of the Indianapolis Colts by a score of 41–0 at the Meadowlands in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, they lost for the second year in a row to the eventual AFC champion Oakland Raiders, 30–10 in the Divisional round.
As of the 2026 season, this is the Jets' most recent AFC East division title and is also the last time they have hosted a home playoff game.
Offseason Additions Subtractions P Matt Turk (Dolphins) P Tom Tupa (Buccaneers) CB Aaron Beasley (Jaguars) G Kerry Jenkins (Buccaneers) G Dave Szott (Redskins) DT Shane Burton (Panthers) DT Josh Evans (Titans) DE Rick Lyle (Patriots) CB Donnie Abraham (Buccaneers) LB James Farrior (Steelers) LB Sam Cowart (Bills) WR Craig Yeast (CFL) DT Larry Webster (Ravens) G David Loverne (Redskins) FS Sam Garnes (Giants) S Victor Green (Patriots) DE Steve White (Buccaneers) DE Eric Ogbogu (Bengals) S Chris Hayes (Patriots) DT Steve Martin (Patriots) WR Matthew Hatchette (Raiders)
2002 expansion draft
+ New York Jets selected during the expansion draft Round Overall Name Position Expansion team—2Ryan YoungOffensive TackleHouston Texans—3Aaron GlennCornerbackHouston Texans—3Marcus ColemanCornerbackHouston Texans
2002 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 2002 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeKroy BaileyWide receiverNorth CarolinaScott BradleyLinebackerBoston CollegeJay BrooksCornerbackTexas A&MJaime BurrowLinebackerNebraskaAtaveus CashWide receiverHowardJoe CooperLinebackerOhio StateAndrew DavisonCornerbackKansasLittle John FlowersRunning backMichigan StateMarcus FloydCornerbackIndianaJerimiah JanssenLinebackerSt. NorbertMatt KnutsonTackleNorth DakotaChad KuhnsFullbackWisconsinFaaesea MailoGuardUSCTavon MasonWide receiverVirginiaKyle McCannQuarterbackIowaBrandon MooreGuardIllinoisIdris PriceLinebackerNew HavenJohnathan ReeseRunning backColumbiaDoug ShanahanSafetyHofstraChris SmithTackleUC Davis
Staff
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 16–6 1–0 Heinz Field Recap 2 at Baltimore Ravens W 34–16 2–0 Ravens Stadium Recap 3 New York Giants W 28–7 3–0 Giants Stadium Recap 4 Philadelphia Eagles W 23–16 4–0 Giants Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Under the NFL's newly established schedule rotation, during the 2002 regular season the Jets played against all of the teams from the AFC West, as well as the Cleveland Browns from the AFC North and the Jacksonville Jaguars from the AFC South, who finished in the same positions as the Jets in their respective divisions in 2001. Their non-conference opponents were from the NFC North.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 8 at Buffalo Bills W 37–31 1–0 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 2 September 15 New England Patriots L 7–44 1–1 Giants Stadium Recap 3 September 22 at Miami Dolphins L 3–30 1–2 Pro Player Stadium Recap 4 September 29 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 3–28 1–3 Alltel Stadium Recap 5 October 6 Kansas City Chiefs L 25–29 1–4 Giants Stadium Recap 6Bye 7 October 20 Minnesota Vikings W 20–7 2–4 Giants Stadium Recap 8 October 27 Cleveland Browns L 21–24 2–5 Giants Stadium Recap 9 November 3 at San Diego Chargers W 44–13 3–5 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 10 November 10 Miami Dolphins W 13–10 4–5 Giants Stadium Recap 11 November 17 at Detroit Lions W 31–14 5–5 Ford Field Recap 12 November 24 Buffalo Bills W 31–13 6–5 Giants Stadium Recap 13 at Oakland Raiders L 20–26 6–6 Network Associates Coliseum Recap 14 December 8 Denver Broncos W 19–13 7–6 Giants Stadium Recap 15 December 15 at Chicago Bears L 13–20 7–7 Memorial Stadium Recap 16 December 22 at New England Patriots W 30–17 8–7 Gillette Stadium Recap 17 December 29 Green Bay Packers W 42–17 9–7 Giants Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Buffalo Bills New York won on the first play of overtime as Chad Morton returned the kickoff for 96 yards. The Jets improved to 1-0 with the win to start the year.
Week 2: vs. New England Patriots
Week 3: at Miami Dolphins
Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 5: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 7: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 8: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 9: at San Diego Chargers
Week 10: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 11: at Detroit Lions
Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 15: at Chicago Bears
Week 16: at New England Patriots
Week 17: vs. Green Bay Packers
With their dominant win over Green Bay, the Jets (due to having tie-breaker over New England based on common record) were able to clinch the AFC East and the #4 seed in the AFC with a 9-7 record. As of 2025, this is the last time the Jets clinched the AFC East. As of 2026, this remains the last time the Jets beat the Packers at home.
Standings Division
Conference
Postseason
Schedule Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card Indianapolis Colts (5) W 41–0 1–0 Giants Stadium Recap Divisional January 12, 2003 at Oakland Raiders (1) L 10–30 1–1 Network Associates Coliseum Recap
Game summaries AFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. (5) Indianapolis Colts
This game turned out to be the Jets' last home playoff game at Giants Stadium, and as of 2024, it is also their last home playoff game to date.
AFC Divisional Playoffs: at (1) Oakland Raiders
External links 2002 team stats