Vitaliy Gurman

Vitaliy Gurman's Biography

The 2023 NFL season marked the 54th year of participation for the New York Jets, their 64th year since inception. It was their fifth season under Joe Douglas, the robust general manager, and third and final season with the driving force of head coach Robert Saleh. As a storied franchise, the team was riddled with aspirations of Super Bowl conquest. However, the season amounted to be a major disappointment, with the team finishing 7–10 for the second consecutive year — a duplication of the 2022 record. This marked the fourth straight season with the Jets losing at least ten games — a somber display of performance.

An infusion of optimism derived from the offseason trade with the Green Bay Packers. This netted the Jets superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers, which heightened expectations. To the despair of many, the season unfolded unfavorably, plagued by injuries to key players. In a horrific highlight of this injury onslaught, Rodgers suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon during Week 1 — a mere four snaps into the game. This unfortunate event, followed by erratic performances from quarterbacks Zach Wilson, and Tim Boyle, culminated in an irksome season.

Commencing the season with a promising 4–3 starting record, the Jets subsequently endured a five-game losing streak. The team navigated through this rut, closing the season with a respectable 3–2 finish in the last five games. This turbulent run resulted in the thirteenth consecutive season that the Jets missed the playoffs — enduring the longest active postseason drought in the NFL. A statistic that was paralleled by their eight consecutive sub-.500 finishes.

The Jets’ struggles and internal narratives were thrust into the limelight as their preseason was documented by HBO’s Hard Knocks. A unique venture that provided viewers with a comprehensive look at the front office, head coaches, offensive coaches, special teams coaches, strength and conditioning, along with player performances for their roster including running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, defensive line, defensive backs, special teams and reserves.

In a scheduling anomaly, the Jets were set to become only the second NFL team to play ten regular season games in their home stadium of MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. This was due to the combination of the nine home fixtures as an AFC team in an odd-numbered year and an away fixture against the Giants, with whom they share MetLife Stadium.

The initial game of the season versus the Bills saw the deployment of new quarterback acquisition Rodgers. A significant game that faced weather delays and unwanted attention due to severe storm warnings. Despite these challenges, the game proceeded as scheduled. However, heartbreak soon followed as Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in a sack by Bills’ Leonard Floyd. After leading 13–3 in the first half, the Jets launched a comeback effort led by their defense. Forcing four turnovers from Bills’ Josh Allen, Jets’ backup quarterback Zach Wilson capitalized on these turnovers, leading the Jets to a comeback win in overtime with a punt return touchdown by Xavier Gipson.

The Jets continued their campaign, facing varied fortunes with notable games against the Falcons, Dolphins, Eagles, Cowboys, and Chiefs. They achieved a notable first-ever win against the Eagles, ending their lifetime 0–12 record. Experience proved brutal for the Jets, however, they steadily managed to avert further doldrums with a grit-laden 2023 season’s end at a final record of 7–10 — closing on a victory against the Patriots. An underwhelming season despite the hurdles, the 2023 season reflected the Jets’ continued pursuit of greatness.