The Super Bowl this Sunday isn’t just a championship game for the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots; for New York Jets fans, it’s a uniquely painful reminder of what could have been. The matchup pits former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, now leading the Seahawks, against the Patriots, a franchise that has long been the Jets’ nemesis. The situation has left Jets fans in the unenviable position of potentially rooting for their former signal-caller or their most hated rival.
The animosity between the Jets and the Patriots dates back to 1960, when both teams were members of the American Football League. The rivalry continued to intensify after the merger with the NFL in 1970, with the two teams frequently clashing as members of the AFC East. While New England currently holds a 77-56-1 edge in the all-time series, their dominance has been particularly pronounced in recent decades, boasting six Super Bowl wins and 18 divisional titles since 2000.
For many Jets fans, the sting is amplified by the recent history. They believed the tide might be turning when Tom Brady departed the Patriots in 2020 and Bill Belichick followed in 2024. However, the Patriots quickly rebounded, reaching the Super Bowl just two years later with a new young quarterback and coach. “If the Patriots win the Super Bowl, that’s when the whole world will just come crashing down on the Jets fan,” remarked NFL reporter Connor Hughes, who covers the Jets and Giants for SNY.
Adding insult to injury, the Patriots reportedly pursued current head coach Mike Vrabel before he ultimately accepted the position in New England. According to Hughes, the Jets “did everything they could to get him,” even offering more money and full control of the team in a last-ditch effort to sway him. Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker who won three Super Bowls as a player, ultimately chose New England, further solidifying the Jets’ struggles.
The Jets’ own struggles are well-documented. They haven’t reached the playoffs in 15 consecutive seasons and finished this past season with a dismal 3-14 record. “People can say they are lovable losers, but they are not even that,” said Jordan Kamzan, a Jets fan from Long Beach, New York. “What’s there to love?”
Central to the current predicament is Sam Darnold, the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Despite flashes of potential, Darnold went 13-25 as a starter for the Jets and became a source of frustration for the fanbase, punctuated by viral moments like a graphic announcing his diagnosis of mononucleosis and his infamous declaration of “seeing ghosts” during a game against the Patriots in 2019. He was ultimately traded after the 2020 season and largely considered a draft bust.
However, many now believe the Jets failed Darnold more than he failed them. Hughes argues that the Jets provided Darnold with inadequate support, citing poor offensive line play, a lack of receiving talent, and inconsistent coaching. “Everything you could possibly do to make a quarterback fail is pretty much what the Jets did,” he said.
Darnold’s career has experienced a remarkable turnaround since leaving New York. After a stint as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers, he found success as a starter with the Minnesota Vikings and now the Seahawks. This season, he threw for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns, forming a strong connection with receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. His performance in the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams – completing nearly 70% of his passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions – cemented his place in the Super Bowl.
This resurgence has led many Jets fans to begrudgingly support their former quarterback. “It’s hard not to feel good for the guy,” said Corey Celt, a Jets fan from Commack, New York. “As a Jets fan, I don’t hold any hard feelings against Darnold. It’s a choice between the Patriots and Sam Darnold, and I think picking Sam Darnold is an easy one.”
The situation highlights a broader narrative of missed opportunities and persistent disappointment for Jets fans. Kamzan acknowledges the “what-ifs” surrounding Darnold’s time in New York, wondering if better management could have unlocked his potential. But he accepts the reality: “It’s the Jets.”
For Jets fans, Super Bowl LX is less about celebrating a championship and more about navigating a painful paradox. Whether they choose to root for their former quarterback or begrudgingly accept another Patriots victory, the game serves as a stark reminder of the franchise’s ongoing struggles and the elusive pursuit of success.
