1971 New York Jets

1971 New York Jets season
Head Coach	Weeb Ewbank
Home Field	Shea Stadium
Results
Record	6–8
Place	3rd AFC East
Playoff Finish	did not qualify
Timeline
Previous Season	Next Season
1970	1972

The 1971 New York Jets season was the 12th season for the team and the second in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 4–10 record from 1970 under head coach Weeb Ewbank. Disaster struck before the regular season ever started and it was a remarkable feat the Jets were able to finish 6–8–0. Joe Namath was injured in a preseason game against the Detroit Lions and would require knee surgery, All-Pro WR George Sauer unexpectedly retired at the peak of his career, and All-Pro defensive End Verlon Biggs exercised his option and signed with the Washington Redskins. After missing 19 straight games in 1970 and 1971, Namath returned to action against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter (November 28, 1971) and would throw for 358 yards and three touchdowns in a 24–21 loss. He then started the final three games and the Jets won two of those.

Offseason

NFL Draft

1971 New York Jets Draft
Round	Pick #	Overall	Name	Position	College
1	6	6	John Riggins	Running Back	Kansas
2	6	32	John Mooring	Tackle	Tampa
3	6	58	Chris Farasopoulos	Defensive Back	BYU
4	6	84	Bill Zapalac	Linebacker	Texas
6	6	136	Phil Wise	Tight End	Nebraska-Omaha
7	6	162	Scott Palmer	Defensive Tackle	Texas
8	6	188	Roy Kirksey	Guard	Maryland State
9	6	214	John Curtis	Tight End	Springfield
10	6	240	Jim Bettis	Defensive Back	Michigan
11	6	266	Vernon Studdard	Wide Receiver	Ole Miss
12	6	292	Rich Sowells	Defensive Back	Alcorn St
13	6	318	John Eggold	Defensive End	Arizona
14	6	344	John Harpring	Guard	Michigan
15	6	370	Dan Dyches	Center	South Carolina
16	6	396	Steve Harkey	Running Back	Georgia Tech
17	6	422	Greg Flaska	Defensive End	Western Michigan

Roster

1971 New York Jets final roster
	Quarterbacks 15 Bob Davis 12 Joe Namath 18 Al Woodall Running backs 32 Emerson Boozer 36 Steve Harkey 42 Cliff McClain 37 George Nock 44 John Riggins FB 41 Matt Snell Wide receivers 7 Eddie Bell 88 Rich Caster 13 Don Maynard 22 Vern Studdard Tight ends 82 Gary Arthur 87 Pete Lammons 89 Wayne Stewart		Offensive linemen 61 Roger Finnie G 70 Dave Foley T 67 Dave Herman G 75 Winston Hill T 63 Roy Kirksey G 71 John Mooring T 66 Randy Rasmussen G 52 John Schmitt C 76 Bob Svihus T Defensive linemen 64 Chuck Hinton DT 57 John Little DT 84 Mark Lomas DE 72 Scott Palmer DT 81 Gerry Philbin DE 79 Clovis Swinney DT 53 Bill Zapalac DE		Linebackers 62 Al Atkinson 51 Ralph Baker 56 Paul Crane 55 John Ebersole 60 Larry Grantham Defensive backs 43 John Dockery CB 19 Chris Farasopoulos FS 33 W. K. Hicks FS 48 Gus Hollomon SS 21 Steve Tannen CB 45 Earlie Thomas CB 27 Phil Wise SS Special teams 3 Bobby Howfield K 20 Steve O'Neal P		Reserve lists 80 John Elliott DT (IR) Practice squad Currently vacant Rookies in italics 0 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 Practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Game site	Attendance
1	1971-09-19	at Baltimore Colts	L 22–0	Memorial Stadium	56,458
2	1971-09-27	at St. Louis Cardinals	L 17–10	Busch Memorial Stadium	50,358
3	1971-10-03	at Miami Dolphins	W 14–10	Miami Orange Bowl	70,670
4	1971-10-10	at New England Patriots	L 20–0	Schafer Stadium	61,357
5	1971-10-17	Buffalo Bills	W 28–17	Shea Stadium	61,948
6	1971-10-24	Miami Dolphins	L 30–14	Shea Stadium	62,130
7	1971-10-31	at San Diego Chargers	L 49–21	San Diego Stadium	44,786
8	1971-11-07	Kansas City Chiefs	W 13–10	Shea Stadium	62,812
9	1971-11-14	Baltimore Colts	L 14–13	Shea Stadium	63,947
10	1971-11-21	at Buffalo Bills	W 20–7	War Memorial Stadium	41,577
11	1971-11-28	San Francisco 49ers	L 24–21	Shea Stadium	63,936
12	1971-12-04	at Dallas Cowboys	L 52–10	Texas Stadium	66,689
13	1971-12-12	New England Patriots	W 13–6	Shea Stadium	63,175
14	1971-12-19	Cincinnati Bengals	W 35–21	Shea Stadium	63,151

Standings

AFC East
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Miami Dolphins	10	3	1	.769	315	174
Baltimore Colts	10	4	0	.714	313	140
New England Patriots	6	8	0	.429	238	325
New York Jets	6	8	0	.429	212	299
Buffalo Bills	1	13	0	.071	184	394

External links

• 1971 statistics