I am writing not as a casual observer, but as a lifelong Jets fan and a member of a fan base that has demonstrated extraordinary loyalty through years of disappointment, frustration, and heartbreak.

The numbers tell the story. Sixteen years without a playoff appearance. More than a decade since the team’s last winning season. In a league built to promote parity through the salary cap, free agency, revenue sharing, and the draft, this is more than a rough stretch. It is one of the longest periods of sustained failure in professional sports.

What makes it harder to accept is that the Jets are not a franchise lacking resources. They play in the nation’s largest media market, generate significant revenues, and are supported by one of the NFL’s most passionate fan bases. The foundations for success are all there. Yet year after year, the results remain unchanged.

As fans, we have embraced every new beginning. New coaches. New general managers. New quarterbacks.........

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