1979 New York Jets season

Offseason

Draft

Main article: 1979 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Personnel

Staff

• Leon Hess – Owner

• Jim Kensil – President/CEO

• Mike Hickey – Director of player personnel

• Jim Royer – Director of pro personnel

• Carroll Huntress – Scout

• Connie Carberg – Personnel assistant

• Walt Michaels – Head coach

• John Idzik – Offensive coordinator

• Bob Ledbetter – Running backs

• Bob Fry – Offensive line

• John Mazur – Defensive coordinator

• Dan Sekanovich – Defensive line

• Joe Gardi – Linebackers/special teams

Roster

Regular season

Schedule

Standings

Week 1: vs. [[Cleveland Browns]]

Matt Robinson was named starting quarterback for the Jets against the Cleveland Browns but hid a thumb injury on his throwing hand from three days before the game, until swelling forced him to acknowledge the injury to an angered Walt Michaels and team president Jim Kensil. The injury was treated and Robinson had the tape taken off late in the game with the Jets leading, but a Brian Sipe drive aided by a roughing the passer call against Mark Gastineau led to a game-tying Don Cockroft field goal; forced to play in overtime, Robinson's thumb swelled again and the result was a sloppy pass that was intercepted and led to the game-winning Cockroft field goal. Michaels seethed, "You work, you plan all week, and then the kid hides an injury from you." He refused to play Robinson the rest of the season.

Week 2: at [[New England Patriots]]

The Jets were crushed 56–3 in a game where Steve Grogan of the Patriots set a club touchdown record that would stand until Tom Brady broke it in 2007.

Week 7: vs. [[Minnesota Vikings]]

In the first Monday Night Football game to be broadcast from the New York City area, the Jets beat the Minnesota Vikings 14-7 in front of a raucous crowd, many of whom showed up intoxicated and began throwing bottles onto the field. One Shea Stadium security worker described the scene as worse than the celebration that ensued after the Mets won the 1969 World Series. In all, more than 30 fans and three security guards were hurt and two people were arrested.

Week 13: at [[Seattle Seahawks]]

Seahawks cornerback Cornell Webster blocked a punt by the Jets' Chuck Ramsey, leading to a Seattle score in a 30–7 Seahawks win. Following the game Michaels called out Ramsey in front of Jets players by snarling, "I can fart farther than you can kick!"

References

References

1. The [[Seattle Seahawks]] and [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] started play in [[1976 NFL season. 1976]].
2. Eskenazi, Gerald (1998). GANG GREEN: An Irreverent Look Behind The Scenes At Thirty-Eight (Well, Thirty-Seven) Seasons Of New York Jets Football Futility (New York: Simon & Schuster), pp. 146–50 {{ISBN. 0-684-84115-0
3. (October 16, 1979). "Jets Defeat Vikings by 14-7".
4. Eskenazi, GANG GREEN, pp. 155–6