The 2009 New York Jets season was the franchise's 40th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 50th season overall, the last season at Giants Stadium and the first under new head coach Rex Ryan. While they matched their 9–7 record from 2008, this time the team headed to the playoffs. In the postseason the Jets defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 24–14 and 17–14 over the San Diego Chargers. But in the AFC Championship Game they lost to the Indianapolis Colts 30–17.
The Jets fired head coach Eric Mangini on December 29, 2008 and hired Rex Ryan from the Baltimore Ravens on January 18, 2009. The Jets were represented at the 2010 Pro Bowl by Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, Shaun Ellis, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and Alan Faneca.
One highlight from this season included the Jets snapping their former divisional rival Indianapolis Colts' NFL record 23-game regular season winning streak that dated back to October 27, 2008, in which they were beaten by their divisional rival Tennessee Titans, and the Jets also made their first AFC Championship Game appearance since 1998. Quarterback Mark Sanchez became one of two quarterbacks (the other being Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens) since the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger to win multiple playoff games in their rookie season. The Jets had the number one defense in all of football that year giving up only 236 points and allowed only 8 passing touchdowns.
Offseason
Coaching changes
Head coach Eric Mangini was fired by the Jets on December 29, 2008. The decision was made after the Jets fell from 8–3 and sole possession of first place in the AFC East with four losses in their last five games, causing them to miss a playoff berth. He finished his tenure as head coach with a 23–25 record including the playoffs.
At first, the Jets attempted to lure former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher out of retirement, with the possibility of Cowher gaining personnel decisions in addition to coaching. Cowher ultimately decided to stay retired in 2009. The Jets interviewed several candidates for their vacancy. In-house candidates included offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and offensive line coach Bill Callahan. Other candidates interviewed were Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks, New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, and Boston College head coach Jeff Jagodzinski (who was subsequently fired from his position as a result of accepting the interview).
The Jets eventually picked Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan as their head coach. He accepted the position just hours after the Ravens' loss in the AFC Championship Game on January 18, and was introduced by the Jets on January 21.
Signings On February 27, the Jets signed former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott to a six-year, $48 million deal. On March 3, the Jets inked Jim Leonhard, former Ravens safety, to a three-year, $6 million deal.
Departures After failing to come to terms on a contract extension, the Jets restructured the contract of wide receiver Laveranues Coles to allow him to immediately become an unrestricted free agent on February 25. Though Coles admitted a chance he could re-sign with the Jets, he signed a four-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. On March 4, former kicker Mike Nugent was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a one-year deal.
Trades On February 28, the Jets traded for cornerback Lito Sheppard of the Philadelphia Eagles, sending the Eagles a 2009 fifth-round draft pick and a 2010 conditional draft pick. The pick can be as high as second and as low as fourth. Upon the trade, Sheppard received a four-year, $27.2 million contract extension.
On October 7, the Jets made a blockbuster deal with the Cleveland Browns to send wide receiver Braylon Edwards to the Jets for wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik, and two draft picks.
2009 NFL draft
The Jets were assigned the 17th selection in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. Prior to the 2008 season, the Jets traded a conditional fourth round selection to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for quarterback Brett Favre; this became a third round selection because Favre took the majority of snaps for the Jets in 2008. They gave their fifth round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Lito Sheppard trade. They also received a third round selection from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Prior to the 2007 season, the Jets received a fourth round selection from the Washington Redskins in exchange for guard Pete Kendall; the pick was originally a 2008 fifth round selection that was upgraded due to Kendall's playing time in 2007.
On draft day, the Jets traded their first and second-round picks, defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam, and quarterback Brett Ratliff to the Cleveland Browns for their first round selection, the fifth overall. The Jets used the selection to draft quarterback Mark Sanchez from the University of Southern California. The Jets also sent their third, fourth, and seventh-round selections to the Detroit Lions for the Lions' third-round pick, which was the first of the second day of the draft. The Jets selected running back Shonn Greene of the University of Iowa with this pick.
Staff
Rosters
Opening training camp roster
New York Jets 2009 opening training camp roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams Reserve lists Currently vacant
80 Active, 0 Inactive
Week 1 roster
New York Jets 2009 week 1 roster Quarterbacks Erik Ainge Kellen Clemens Kevin O'Connell Mark Sanchez
Running backs Shonn Greene Thomas Jones Tony Richardson FB Leon Washington
Wide receivers David Clowney Jerricho Cotchery Brad Smith Chansi Stuckey Wallace Wright
Tight ends Ben Hartsock Dustin Keller Matthew Mulligan Offensive linemen Alan Faneca G D'Brickashaw Ferguson T Wayne Hunter T Nick Mangold C Brandon Moore G Matt Slauson G Robert Turner C Damien Woody T
Defensive linemen Mike DeVito DE Marques Douglas DE Howard Green NT Kris Jenkins NT Ropati Pitoitua DE Sione Pouha NT Linebackers Ryan Fowler ILB Vernon Gholston OLB David Harris ILB Larry Izzo ILB Marques Murrell OLB Bart Scott ILB Bryan Thomas OLB Jason Trusnik OLB Jamaal Westerman ILB
Defensive backs Ahmad Carroll CB Marquice Cole CB Drew Coleman CB James Ihedigbo FS Jim Leonhard SS Dwight Lowery CB/PR Darrelle Revis CB Kerry Rhodes FS Lito Sheppard CB Eric Smith SS Donald Strickland CB
Special teams James Dearth LS Jay Feely K Steve Weatherford P Reserve lists Aundrae Allison WR (IR) Shaun Ellis DE (Susp.) Calvin Pace OLB (Susp.)
Practice Squad Kenwin Cummings ILB Jason Davis FB Keith Fitzhugh S Marcus Henry WR Matt Kroul DE Ryan McKee OT Jack Simmons TE Danny Woodhead RB 53 Active, 3 Inactive, 8 PS
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 St. Louis Rams L 20–23 0–1 Giants Stadium Recap 2 at Baltimore Ravens L 23–24 0–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 3 at New York Giants W 27–25 1–2 Giants Stadium Recap 4 Philadelphia Eagles W 38–27 2–2 Giants Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 13 at Houston Texans W 24–7 1–0 Reliant Stadium Recap 2 September 20 New England Patriots W 16–9 2–0 Giants Stadium Recap 3 September 27 Tennessee Titans W 24–17 3–0 Giants Stadium Recap 4 October 4 at New Orleans Saints L 10–24 3–1 Louisiana Superdome Recap 5 at Miami Dolphins L 27–31 3–2 Land Shark Stadium Recap 6 October 18 Buffalo Bills L 13–16 3–3 Giants Stadium Recap 7 October 25 at Oakland Raiders W 38–0 4–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 8 November 1 Miami Dolphins L 25–30 4–4 Giants Stadium Recap 9Bye 10 November 15 Jacksonville Jaguars L 22–24 4–5 Giants Stadium Recap 11 November 22 at New England Patriots L 14–31 4–6 Gillette Stadium Recap 12 November 29 Carolina Panthers W 17–6 5–6 Giants Stadium Recap 13 at Buffalo Bills W 19–13 6–6 Rogers Centre Recap 14 December 13 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 26–3 7–6 Raymond James Stadium Recap 15 December 20 Atlanta Falcons L 7–10 7–7 Giants Stadium Recap 16 December 27 at Indianapolis Colts W 29–15 8–7 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 17 January 3 Cincinnati Bengals W 37–0 9–7 Giants Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: at Houston Texans
The Jets began their season at Reliant Stadium for a Week 1 showdown with the Houston Texans. The Jets took off in the first quarter as kicker Jay Feely nailed a 24-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Jets would increase their lead as rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez completed his first career touchdown pass as he connected with wide receiver Chansi Stuckey on a 30-yard pass. In the third quarter, the Jets continued their run as running back Thomas Jones got a 1-yard touchdown run. The Texans tried to rally in the fourth quarter as safety Dominique Barber returned a fumble 48 yards for a touchdown, but the Jets would end the game with Jones getting a 38-yard touchdown run.
With the win, not only did the Jets begin their season at 1–0, but Sanchez (18-of-31, 272 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) would become the first Jets rookie QB since Richard Todd in 1976 to win a game.
Week 2: vs. New England Patriots
Coming off an impressive road win over the Texans, the Jets played their Week 2 home opener against their AFC East rival, the New England Patriots. In the week prior to the game, first-year Jets head coach Rex Ryan placed a phone message to all Jets season ticket holders asking them to "make it miserable for (Tom) Brady and company," following up on his comments during the off-season that he would not "kiss Bill Belichick's Super Bowl rings." He told the Jets fans that "the Patriots had a better head coach and a better quarterback," but that the game would decide "who has a better team." Meanwhile, Jets safety Kerry Rhodes said the Jets intended on not just winning, but "embarrassing" the Patriots in the game, while nose tackle Kris Jenkins called it the Jets' version of the Super Bowl; the Jets had not defeated the Patriots at home since 2000. On the first drive of the game, without an injured Wes Welker, the Patriots drove to the Jets' 36-yard line before having to punt. The Jets' first play from scrimmage was a strip-sack of rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez by defensive lineman Mike Wright; Sanchez recovered the fumble at the Jets' 3-yard line. On 4th-and-24, the Jets punted back to their own 49-yard line; the Patriots could not capitalize on the field position and went three-and-out. However, Jets running back Leon Washington fumbled on the next play; cornerback Leigh Bodden recovered it at the Jets' 17-yard line. Two holding penalties would push the Patriots back to the Jets' 37-yard line, setting up a 45-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal to give the Patriots a 3–0 lead. Following a Jets three-and-out, the Patriots moved to their own 41-yard line before Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis intercepted a pass intended for Randy Moss at the Jets' 16-yard line. The Jets offense would continue to struggle, however, going three-and-out again to end the first quarter.