It’s safe to say Tom Brady owned the New York Jets for nearly two decades.
He went 30-7 against his former division rival throughout his career as the New England Patriots winning the AFC East became a certainty every single year.
The last time the Jets won a division title was in 2002, which was Brady’s second NFL season.
He made Jets fans pull their hair out for years, so the team’s response to his retirement was a fitting one.
this better be real
— New York Jets (@nyjets) February 1, 2022
“this better be real.”
The announcement was indeed real after a bit of a tease over the weekend.
Even though Brady had since gone to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fans in New York still had nightmares about his 30 victories over the team.
One Crowing Moment For The Jets
The Jets advanced to back-to-back AFC Championship Games under Rex Ryan in 2009 and 2010.
The first year saw them fall against the Indianapolis Colts in the conference title game.
They then fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers the following year, but it came after a victory over Brady and the Patriots in the Divisional Round.
This was a shocking result and one that everyone on that 2010 Jets squad will never forget.
But seriously, congrats on a first-ballot, Hall of Fame career, @TomBrady.
We may not miss seeing you on the field, but the entire football world will. pic.twitter.com/sgvPfpUa7B
— New York Jets (@nyjets) February 1, 2022
Brady owned them for decades, but they got one statement win in the postseason.
Yet it has all been downhill for the Jets since then.
That win over Brady in the 2010 Divisional Round marks the team’s last postseason win and also the last year they reached the playoffs.
The Jets have not even had a winning season since 2015.
That leaves the franchise to hope and pray they have the next version of Brady in Zach Wilson.
If not, they will try again to find that person like they have for years.
NEXT: Making A Case For The Jets To Fire Robert Saleh