1996 New York Jets season

The 1996 New York Jets season began with the team trying to improve upon its league-worst 3–13 record from 1995. However, this season proved even more calamitous as they finished 1–15, which is the worst record in franchise history. This led to the resignation of head coach Rich Kotite after the season ended.

Offseason
The Jets cut quarterback Boomer Esiason after he failed to replicate the success he enjoyed with the Cincinnati Bengals. They signed Neil O'Donnell, who had just led the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl. The Jets received the first pick in the NFL draft in April and drafted wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson out of the University of Southern California. The Jets also signed offensive tackles Jumbo Elliott and David Williams and receivers Jeff Graham and Webster Slaughter. The Jets spent $70 million in the offseason on free-agent and rookie contracts.

Season
O'Donnell was the starter for the first six games of the season, but they went 0–6 under him. After he suffered an injury during pregame warmups Kotite benched O'Donnell in favor of longtime Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Frank Reich, but he didn't fare much better. They lost to Jacksonville and Buffalo, before the now lowly 0–8 Jets beat former Jets QB Boomer Esiason and his new team, the Arizona Cardinals (although Esiason didn't play for the game for Arizona), in Sun Devil Stadium. It was the Jets' only win of the 1996 year. They finished the year with the worst record in the NFL at 1–15.