With three weeks left in the 2025 NFL regular season, New York football is staring down a historically bleak moment. The Giants sit at 2–12 while the Jets are 3–11, combining for a level of futility rarely seen in the modern era. ESPN reported that the 2024 season produced the worst combined winning percentage for the two franchises since the Jets joined the NFL landscape in 1960 when they became an AFL franchise —and 2025 is tracking dangerously close to matching or even surpassing that low. Both teams have struggled on offense, cycled through coaching turmoil, and failed to generate consistent playmaking. For a region that prides itself on toughness, tradition, and football passion, this season has felt like a gut punch.
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As bad as 2025 has been, history shows that New York football has endured similarly disastrous years. According to the Jets’ season records on Wikipedia, the franchise has posted multiple seasons with four wins or fewer since 1960, including 2–14 in 2020 and 3–13 in 1975. The Giants have had their own share of misery, including 3–13 in 2017 and 4–13 in 2021. But the rare moments when both teams crater simultaneously stand out.
Historical breakdown highlights several seasons where the combined Giants‑Jets record ranked among the worst ever:
- 1976: Combined 6–22 (.214)
- 1973: Combined 6–21–1 (.232)
- 1996: Combined 7–25 (.219)
- 2021: Combined 8–26 (.235)
The 2024 season set a new low at 5–21 (.192). With the Giants at 2 wins and the Jets at 3, 2025 is on pace to join that infamous list. The numbers don’t lie — New York football has entered another historically bad chapter.
A Better Future? Giants Have Their QB, Jets Still Searching — But Defense May Lead the Way
Despite the gloom, there are reasons for optimism. The Giants appear to have finally found a franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart, who has shown flashes of leadership and playmaking even amid a difficult season. With a young core on defense — including emerging pass rushers and improving secondary play — New York’s NFC team may be closer to a turnaround than the standings suggest.
The Jets, meanwhile, remain stuck in quarterback purgatory. Their 2025 season began with yet another new starter, and the offense has struggled to find rhythm. But the defense continues to be the team’s backbone, ranking among the league’s more competitive units in several categories. If the Jets can finally stabilize the quarterback position and add offensive line help, a path back to relevance exists.
For both franchises, the blueprint is clear:
- Build around defense.
- Fix the offensive line.
- Develop (or acquire) a long‑term quarterback.
- Commit to coaching stability.
New York football may be suffering now, but with smart decisions, the next chapter doesn’t have to resemble this one.
