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
Head coachWeeb Ewbank
OwnerLeon Hess
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 active, 0 inactive, 0 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule
WeekDateOpponentResultGame siteAttendance
1 September 19, 1971at Baltimore ColtsL 22–0Memorial Stadium
56,458
2 September 27, 1971at St. Louis CardinalsL 17–10Busch Memorial Stadium
50,358
3 October 3, 1971at Miami DolphinsW 14–10Miami Orange Bowl
70,670
4 October 10, 1971at New England PatriotsL 20–0Schaefer Stadium
61,357
5 October 17, 1971Buffalo BillsW 28–17Shea Stadium
61,948
6 October 24, 1971Miami DolphinsL 30–14Shea Stadium
62,130
7 October 31, 1971at San Diego ChargersL 49–21San Diego Stadium
44,786
8 November 7, 1971Kansas City ChiefsW 13–10Shea Stadium
62,812
9 November 14, 1971Baltimore ColtsL 14–13Shea Stadium
63,947
10 November 21, 1971at Buffalo BillsW 20–7War Memorial Stadium
41,577
11 November 28, 1971San Francisco 49ersL 24–21Shea Stadium
63,936
12 December 4, 1971at Dallas CowboysL 52–10Texas Stadium
66,689
13 December 12, 1971New England PatriotsW 13–6Shea Stadium
63,175
14 December 19, 1971Cincinnati BengalsW 35–21Shea Stadium
63,151

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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