The 1980 New York Jets season was the 21st season for the franchise and its eleventh in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 8–8 record from

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the '' International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the '' Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the so ...

under head coach

Walt Michaels Walter Edward Michaels (originally Majka) (October 16, 1929 – July 10, 2019) was a professional American football player and coach who was best remembered for his six-year tenure as head coach of the NFL's New York Jets from 1977 to 1982. In 1 ...

, and being widely predicted to improve further and reach the postseason for the first time since

1969 This year is notable for Apollo 11's first landing on the moon. Events January * January 4 – The Government of Spain hands over Ifni to Morocco. * January 5 **Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701 crashes into a house on its approach to ...

. The Jets finished the season with a record of 4–12. During the season, the Jets were the only team to lose to the notorious New Orleans Saints team, dubbed the “Aints”. On a day with a wind-chill temperature of and kicking with a gale of , the Jets failed to hold on to a 13–7 lead after three quarters, losing by a single point, 21–20. History repeated itself 11 years later, when the Jets lost 28–27 at home to the Indianapolis Colts, the Colts’ lone victory of that season.

Offseason

Draft

Personnel

Staff

Roster

Regular season

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

Season summary

Week 1 vs Colts

Week 2 at Bills

References

External links

1980 statistics
New York Jets seasons New York Jets New York Jets season 1980s in Queens {{NewYork-sport-stub