The Jets’ Longest Playoff Drought in North American Sports

The Jets are, unfortunately, reminded of their 15-year playoff drought this offseason.

With the Sabers officially making their way back into the NHL playoffs recently, Gang Green has found itself at the top of the list for the longest playoff drought in North American sports.

On Saturday, the Rangers secured a victory over the Red Wings, thanks to Gabe Perreault’s hat trick, and in doing so ended the Sabers’ 14-season postseason absence. This marks Buffalo’s first playoff appearance since the 2010-11 season.

Interestingly, while the Angels currently hold the longest playoff drought in Major League Baseball with an 11-year absence since 2014, in the NBA, the Hornets have also been absent from the playoffs since 2016. However, it seems they might change their fortunes soon, as noted in ESPN’s reports.

To be honest, it was not expected that the Sabers would break their drought this season.

Back in December, they were at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. But after a change in management—with Kevin Adams let go and Jarmo Kekalainen stepping in—they managed an incredible turnaround. By Saturday night’s game, they had accumulated 100 points, despite only making minor tweaks to their defensive lineup at the trade deadline.

Over time, the Sabers’ drought grew into the longest in NHL history. For much of the year, they shared this unfortunate title with the Jets.

Now, though, the Jets are the sole holders of this distinction.

The last time the Jets made a postseason appearance was back in 2010, when Mark Sanchez led them to the AFC Championship Game, ultimately losing to the Steelers.

Since then, it’s been a lengthy stretch of disappointments involving coaching changes and a series of quarterback trials, from Sam Darnold, who was the No. 3 overall pick, to Zach Wilson, picked No. 2.

Geno Smith, a second-round pick from 2013 who didn’t quite cement his place as a franchise quarterback, was recently brought back to the team as part of their 2026 roster. Coach Aaron Glenn mentioned at an earlier event that he believes Smith can “lead us to the promised land.”

Yet, the reality is, no matter what the future holds, breaking this playoff drought needs to come first.

Glenn expressed faith in Smith despite the challenges associated with his past. “There’s something about a quarterback dealing with a shoulder injury,” Glenn noted. “He’s shown a lot over time, particularly during his stint in Seattle. He aligns well with our objectives… I think he’s just right for what we’re looking to accomplish, especially with our running game. I think he fits perfectly with the play-action we want to implement.”