Football is back. The New York Jets’ 2023 season will get its first chapter written as pre-season begins for Robert Saleh’s men when the Jets face the Cleveland Browns in Canton, Ohio in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game.

The Jets offseason has been a movie, one that has seen so much happen including trading for future hall of fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and plenty of free-agent signings like Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Quinton Jefferson. The Jets are in a great position to do some amazing things this upcoming season.

We could talk all day about how good the offseason has been, what has gone on and what to expect from 2023, but the first hurdle is their pre-season opener against the Browns.

The Jets have been practising well so far at Training Camp, with the hard knocks cameras there to capture all. New signings and current players performing impressively with the anticipation for the season rising by the second. Offensive lineman Mekhi Becton is no doubt the biggest question mark heading into Thursday night’s game for the Jets. Having not played a game for two years, suffering injury after injury, he is finally back at tackle for New York.

Robert Saleh also confirmed earlier this week that Zach Wilson, and other non-starters will get game time in Canton, so seeing how Becton gets on ahead of the regular season is going to be something Jets fans will be keen on viewing.

These two teams faced off in week two of the 2022 season in a game that went down to the final seconds, seeing the Jets win 31-30 with a last-gasp Garrett Wilson touchdown. Back then, the Browns didn’t have quarterback Deshaun Watson, who will now have former Jet Elijah Moore to call upon as a receiver, who was traded to Cleveland back in March.

Not many people know what to expect from the Browns this season, with their division the AFC North being a tough one to predict with both the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens looking strong, but the Browns still have a solid roster, and some of those players will be on show this week.

The game on Thursday won’t give people much to go off ahead of the new season, with both sides having three more pre-season games to follow, but it will be a chance for fringe players to impress, in hope of seeing their name called when it comes to Saleh selecting his 53-man-roster.

The annual season kick-off game will also serve as a prelude to Saturday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony, when two former Jets will take their place in Canton.

“I give you one guy, Jermaine Johnson, who scratched the surface last year, Now he’s bigger, stronger, faster, smarter when it comes down to the scheme … That guy right there took the initiative this offseason to get better. I’m sure he’s going to have a breakout year this year.” – Quinnen Williams

When one of the very best defensive players in football singles you out for praise, unprompted, you know you’re doing something right.

When that praise is backed up by your Head Coach, even better.

“I don’t know if you guys have noticed, he looks massive in a good way. He looks explosive, he’s very powerful. If you hold a bag, he’s just so heavy handed. Very powerful player, so really expecting him to take a jump this year. Excited about where his mindset is, his confidence, his competitive spirit, all of it. He’s in a good place right now,” Robert Saleh said.

It’s sometimes easy to get lost in the shuffle when you are part of the same draft class as Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson, but Jets second year defensive end Jermaine Johnson is ready to make his own statement in 2023.

After a promising rookie campaign which saw him register 2.5 sacks, 29 tackles (3 TFL), and one marquee moment running down highly athletic Bills quarterback Josh Allen for a shoestring tackle, the excitement and expectation is building for the Jets’ new number 11.

He has already cemented himself as one of the premier run defenders on the edge. According to PFF, Johnson recorded a run-stop rate of 9.8%, a number good enough to lead all rookie edge rushers and rank eighth-best out of 129 qualified edge players.

His ability to stack and shed blocks and his speed in pursuit of the ball carrier was exceptional. To make the next leap, he’ll be looking to increase those sack numbers and camp in opponent backfields.

When you consider his production came in a rotational role, it’s easy to see why everyone is excited about what year two will bring.

Physically he looks in prime condition, but the biggest win could come in his comfort in the system having had over 12 months to comprehend the complexities of the defence and understand his own role within it.

Johnson said as much when he met the media over the weekend, following a session where he registered several pressures and a would-be sack of Aaron Rodgers:

“Just understanding the scheme and being able to play fast,” Johnson said about what’s different this year. “I have been able to use my God-given abilities and hone them and play with an improved mindset and consistency.”

Last year Johnson showed off his 4.58 40-yard-dash speed on the edge, aligned out wide he had the speed to go around the tackles, or the power to go through them.

When asked recently in a NY Post interview about his sack style, Johnson replied:

“Just meet to the fight point. If you’re even with me, I’m leaving you, and if you beat me there, I’m going through you, or inside. That’s pretty simple (laugh).”

This perfectly highlights his versatility to win with speed or strength; if he can introduce some inside counter moves then the sky’s the limit.

The Robert Saleh/Jeff Ulbrich system is predicated on getting pressure without having to blitz, and that’s something they managed to do as well as any team in the league last year.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Jets pressured teams on 25.4% of snaps, which was the 3rd highest rate in football. But they blitzed just 14.9% of the time, the lowest rate in the NFL.

The two teams who had a higher pressure rate, the Philadelphia Eagles (25.5%) and the Dallas Cowboys (25.6%), also blitzed at a much higher rate; the Cowboys at 25.6% and the Eagles at 22.1%.

If the Jets repeat that this year, they can continue to confuse quarterbacks with their coverage schemes, dropping extra players into the middle of the field; it’s going to fall to guys like Johnson to win his matchups on the edge.

Getting after the quarterback will generate headlines, especially if Johnson can do so in the new Legacy White throwback uniforms, a nod to the New York Sack Exchange jerseys, but protecting the edge is vital to winning in today’s NFL, especially against quarterbacks who have home run potential with their arms and legs.

Which is why his run-down of Josh Allen last season was so impressive. There are only a handful of defensive ends who have Johnson’s athleticism and size combination, and the number of players capable of tracking Allen to the sideline is even smaller.

According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson recorded 37 defensive stops during his final year at Florida State. They consider a defensive stop any tackle that constitutes a failure for the offence. If you consider he had 14 sacks, that means he had over 20 tackles in the run game which resulted in a failure for the offence.

Far from a one-dimensional pass-rusher, Johnson is a modern-day edge who takes as much pride in stuffing the run as sacking the quarterback. Having recently had his first child, he’s often spoken about his determination to leave a legacy, not only to be feared by the opposition but respected for doing something special.

The Jets are bringing back a modernized version of arguably the franchise’s most popular uniform combination that will take fans back to the “Sack Exchange Era.”

The team revealed its “Legacy White” throwback uniforms— a design reminiscent of the uniforms worn by the team from 1979-89 — this morning. The Jets will wear the throwbacks in the national spotlight twice this regular season — Week 1 vs. Buffalo on Sept. 11 and Week 4 vs. Kansas City on Oct. 1. A limited number of tickets remain for both games on Ticketmaster.com.

The Jets’ throwbacks are highlighted by a Sack Exchange logo decal affixed to its current helmet shell with a white face mask. Using the team’s current “Gotham Green” colorway, the jersey features double-stripe shoulders and single-stripe pants, the same design the team wore throughout this era. The Legacy White uniforms utilize Nike Vapor F.U.S.E. technology, a product built to maximize team performance.

When the Green & White wear their throwbacks, MetLife Stadium will also be updated with Legacy branding including the Jets Sack Exchange logo on the 50-yard line. There will also be Legacy-themed end zones, a throwback wall wrap and in-game entertainment that will take fans back to the era.

On the sideline, players, coaches and staff will wear Legacy gear. As part of the release, a special Legacy Collection featuring jerseys, jackets, hoodies, caps and T-shirts is now available on JetsShop.com and will also be available at Training Camp and on gamedays in the Jets Shop.

The uniform release coincides with a celebratory year for the team, as Joe Klecko — a centerpiece of the Sack Exchange era— will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 5 alongside four-time first-team All Pro Darrelle Revis. Each player will receive his Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence during halftime ceremonies this season (Klecko, Oct. 1 & Revis, Nov. 6)

Per the NFL’s uniform policy, teams are allowed to wear a combination of throwback uniforms and alternate uniforms up to three times during the season. The Jets will wear their alternate “Stealth Black” uniform at home against the Dolphins in the NFL’s first Black Friday game.

With their throwbacks, the Jets will pay homage to an era that had six eventual Ring of Honor members in Klecko, Marty Lyons, Mark Gastineau, Freeman McNeil, Wesley Walker and Al Toon. The Jets were postseason participants in 1981, ’82, ’85 and ’86, the New York Sack Exchange was born in 1981 as the Jets paced the NFL with 66 sacks, and Freeman McNeil rushed for a career-high 1,331 yards in 1985.

The Green & White’s epic 51-45 win over the Dolphins in 1986 that saw Ken O’Brien and Walker connect for 4 TDs including the game-winner in overtime is considered one of the NFL’s greatest games.

5 Impact Moves the Jets Made in the 2023 Off-Season

2023 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Jets seasons in recent memory.

Following an extremely promising 2022 season, headlined by a number of breakout performances, Joe Douglas went to work this off-season intent on completing the build on a Championship calibre roster.

With training camp just around the corner, I thought we’d start this series with a look at 5 impact moves the Jets made this off-season.

Trading for Aaron Rodgers

There’s only one place to start when you trade for a former Super Bowl champion and four time MVP.

The Jets made a statement of intent trading for Rodgers, who brings both a Championship ring and Championship mentality to New York.

The former Packers signal caller has made quite the impression since making the move east and has been an active participant throughout the off-season.

Looking revitalised, Rodgers should achieve several milestones with the Jets this year. He’s 945 yards shy of passing for 60,000 yards and just 25 touchdowns shy of 500.

Personal achievements are good, but winning a championship is better. Rodgers legacy is already well-established, but winning a championship with the Jets certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Drafting Will McDonald 

Joe Douglas sprung a surprise on draft night, electing to select pass-rusher Will McDonald out of Iowa State. Defensive end may not have been the most glaring need on the Jets roster, but listen to Douglas talk for 5 minutes and you’ll understand the importance of consistent line play.

The Jets had one of the best pass-rushing units in football last season and adding McDonald will only enhance that. It may also open up the opportunity for the Jets to use the versatility of John Franklin-Myers and Micheal Clemons, lining them inside next to Quinnen Williams.

Carl Lawson is another year removed from his Achilles injury and Jermaine Johnson is heading into year two in the system, adding a speed rusher like McDonald who possesses elite bend to turn the corner will make the Jets rotation that much more dangerous.

Last year the Jets ranked 3rd in the league in pressure percentage (25.4%) while blitzing a league-low 14.9%. If the Jets can continue to generate pressure with a 4-man rush, it allows defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to get creative with his coverage system.

Adding Quinton Jefferson

The Jets experienced a little bit of turnover at defensive tackle with Sheldon Rankins heading to Houston and Nathan Shepherd waltzing into ‘The Big Easy’.

Joe Douglas wasted little time in finding suitable replacements in Al Woods and Quinton Jefferson, and while both are key, I wanted to focus on the latter.

The former Seattle Seahawk is coming off a fine season where he registered 29 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 42 pressures, now he gets the chance to line up next to superstar Quinnen Williams.

Not only will lining up next to Williams take the pressure off Jefferson, but it should ensure that one of them draws favourable matchups. Teams like to double Quinnen, but doing that with Jefferson around is a dangerous game. It’s a case of pick your poison with the DT position.

Adding Allen Lazard 

It’s often said that the Brits like an underdog, I can’t speak for everyone but I know that rings true for me.

Lazard was undrafted out of Iowa State and found his way to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who decided to stash him on the practice squad. Green Bay spotted the opportunity to poach him and after working his way up the Packers depth chart, he formed a close bond with Aaron Rodgers.

Lazard is coming off his best pro season having caught 60 passes for 788 yards and 6 touchdowns, and will likely move around the formation with the Jets.

While with Nathaniel Hackett in Green Bay, Lazard spent considerable time in the slot and out wide, and it’s logical to expect the same in New York. He also draws attention away from Garrett Wilson, who is coming off an impressive rookie campaign.

Adding Mecole Hardman

Speed creates pressure and pressure bursts pipes. Those were the words of Joe Douglas while at the combine in Indianapolis this year, and you don’t get much quicker than Mecole Hardman.

Hardman has averaged 13.8 yards a carry since entering the league in 2019, and his speed creates possibilities for an offence and problems for a defence.

Not only is he a constant deep threat, but he can also be used on jet sweeps and conventional handoffs. He also happens to have multiple touchdowns in the return game, giving special teams coordinator Brant Boyer a talented skillset to work with.

Hardman’s 2022 season was cut short but back in 2021 he caught 59 passes for 693 yards with 507 of those yards coming after the catch. The west coast offence that Hackett will run will rely on YAC ability, and Hardman is likely to be a favourite target

Here I’ve outlined just five moves, but this is by no means a definitive list. You can point to the drafting of centre Joe Tippmann, signing of Adrian Amos or return of punter Thomas Morstead, this roster is ready to win and Douglas may not be done adding.

As the New York Jets squad enjoys a well-earned summer break ahead of Training Camp, we thought we’d take a look at the newest arrivals on the roster coming into the 2023 season.

For the purposes of this article, we’re omitting rookies from the exercise, with a breakdown of our first year players likely to come a little closer to Training Camp.

There have been additions made across the team, with none quite as eye-catching as the well-documented arrival of Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers via trade. Let’s break them down, starting on the offensive side of the ball.

OFFENCE

Quarterback – Aaron Rodgers

The Jets new QB1 needs little in the way of introduction but indulge us for just a moment. Now 39 years old, the signal-caller had spent his entire 17-year career to date with the Green Bay Packers, establishing himself as one of the best passers in NFL history.

A Super Bowl champion (and MVP) in the 2010 season, four NFL MVP awards, 10 Pro Bowl selections, over 5,000 completions and nearly 60,000 passing yards to go with an NFL record 475-105 TD-INT ratio.

He arrives in New York as one of the most eagerly anticipated Jets arrivals in franchise history.

Quarterback – Tim Boyle

Another new face in the quarterback room following the departures of Mike White and Joe Flacco, Tim Boyle has been in the league since 2018, when he signed with the Green Bay Packers and played as Aaron Rodgers’ backup for three seasons.

After short stints with the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, he teams up with Rodgers again here in New York.

Wide Receiver – Allen Lazard

Rodgers’ teammate for the last four seasons in Green Bay, Allen Lazard signed with the Jets via free agency back in March. He racked up over 2,000 receiving yards with the Packers, emerging as one of their top wideout options despite a tougher journey than most to even reach the NFL, having gone undrafted in 2018.

A big-bodied receiver with a large catch radius, Lazard will offer the ability to stretch the field and make tough contested catches, while his existing rapport with Rodgers should make the adjustment to the new offence an easier proposition.

Wide Receiver – Mecole Hardman

Another new face in the receiver room, Mecole Hardman arrived via free agency from Kansas City, signing a few days after Lazard. He established himself as a key member of the high-flying Chiefs offence following his arrival into the league in 2019, with his game-changing speed as his calling card.

He has contributed in the passing game, the running game and even as a punt returner, and could be involved in all three facets again with the Jets, who may wish to get creative with his deployment around the field.

Wide Receiver – Randall Cobb

The final new addition to the receiver room, and another one who is very familiar with the new face throwing the football at Florham Park.

Randall Cobb spent the first eight years of his career with the Green Bay Packers, returning again for the past two seasons and catching over 500 passes and 40 touchdowns from Aaron Rodgers. He was a Pro Bowler in 2014 after his most successful season, with 91 receptions, 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Now 32 years of age, Cobb provides experience and reliability from the slot, where he has been hugely productive throughout his career.

Offensive Line – Wes Schweitzer

Bolstering the offensive line was a goal for the Jets over the course of the offseason, after injuries besieged the group last year. They made an early addition in free agency, acquiring interior lineman Wes Schweitzer, formerly of the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons.

Schweitzer has played at both guard and centre, starting 60 games in his NFL career, and is expected to provide depth to the Jets offensive line group.

Offensive Line – Trystan Colon

Another addition to the Jets interior OL, Trystan Colon signed with the team in March after three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

Colon also has experience at both guard and centre, serving as a swing backup for much of his time with Baltimore, a role he looks likely to reprise with the Jets this season.

Offensive Line – Billy Turner

A ten-year NFL veteran, Billy Turner joins the Jets after stop-offs at four other franchises: the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers, with two of those stints seeing him team up with current Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

His three year run with the Packers means he also has experience with an Aaron Rodgers-led offence, and he will bring knowledge and perspective to the group. He has experience playing at both tackle positions and may be called on in a starting or backup role this season for the green and white.

DEFENCE

Defensive Line – Quinton Jefferson

On the defensive side of the line, the Jets had a couple of vacancies to fill, following the departures of interior defenders Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd. Quinton Jefferson will step up in that regard, arriving from Seattle where he has played three stints over his seven year career.

Jefferson’s strength will be in the pass-rush game, where he has collected 10 sacks over the past two seasons. He could team up with Quinnen Williams on the interior to cause major disruption in the passing game.

Defensive Line – Al Woods

Al Woods is another former Seahawk, although his 13-year career has actually spanned seven NFL franchises, meaning the 36-year old brings experience and nous to a young Jets DL unit.

In contrast to Jefferson, Woods’ biggest contribution is likely to come in the run game, where he has carved out a reputation as one of the most productive run stuffers in the league.

Safety – Adrian Amos

Their most recent addition to the roster, the Jets added veteran safety Adrian Amos last week, bolstering their secondary.

Another former Packer, Amos has 10 career interceptions and has appeared in every regular season game over the past five seasons, giving the Jets depth and versatility at the safety position.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter – Thomas Morstead

The final name in our long list of Jets additions, Thomas Morstead signed with the team in April and is the presumed starting punter heading into the 2023 season.

Morstead has played for the Jets before, appearing in seven games for them in 2021. Previous to that, the 36-year old spent 12 years as the punter for the New Orleans Saints, earning Pro Bowl and second-team All Pro honours in 2012.

After five weeks of thrilling regular season action, the Jets and Bears NFL Girls Flag League reached its conclusion on Monday evening in Ealing, as the Ealing Fields Jets secured the inaugural title against the Beaconsfield Bears, by a score of 38-12.

All 12 teams and 130 girls took part in the event, with games directly between Jets and Bears teams for the first time in the league to date. Ealing Fields and Beaconsfield progressed to the grand final after victories against Featherstone and Northwood respectively, with a large crowd gathering to watch the final unfold.

Along with the on-field action, the event at Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club also had hair braiding, eye black artists, cornhole, jenga, BBQ and an ice cream stand, as the girls celebrated their extraordinary progress in the London sunshine.

Since the launch event on March 8th at the same location, the progress of the participating teams has been eye-catching, with a number of dazzling plays stealing the show. Along with their on-field displays, the girls impressed with their off-field teamwork, camaraderie and passion for the game.

Almost all girls had zero experience playing flag football before the league began, but threw themselves head first into the challenge, representing their schools and teams with pride.

During the trophy presentation, which included short speeches from Jets and Bears community representatives Eli Hodges and Gustavo Silva, it was also revealed that the winning Ealing Fields team would represent the Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium later this year, in a one-off contest with their German equivalents.

Ealing Fields went the regular season unbeaten, and it was clear why on Monday as they dominated on offence and defence when it mattered most, pulling away in a final that had all to play for at half time.

The teams were cheered on by a number of parents, relatives and fans, including flag player and Sky Sports analyst Phoebe Schecter and former New York Jet Erik Coleman. Coleman also spent the day before attending a grassroots training session at Finsbury Park, the home of the London Blitz.

The six week league was an extension of the Jets hugely successful domestic Girls Flag programme, and marks the start of what they hope will be a sustained effort in the United Kingdom to promote grassroots American Football.

With the New York Jets schedule officially released this month, all that remains is to count down the days until that opening game against the Buffalo Bills – not too long now!

The 17-game schedule is full of bumper matchups, but we thought we’d break down five of the can’t miss contests for UK fans, especially given some of them might require some crafty planning of sleep schedules…

Week 1 – New York Jets vs Buffalo Bills – Tuesday 12 September, 1:15AM

We have to start at the beginning. A Monday Night Football matchup with back-to-back-to-back division champions the Buffalo Bills.

Aaron Rodgers’ first start as a New York Jet will come in front of a raucous MetLife Stadium crowd on national television, as the Jets look to repeat the trick from last season and beat Josh Allen and the Bills at home.

Fans in the UK: take Tuesday off work now. This one is going to be worth staying up for.

Week 4 – New York Jets vs Kansas City Chiefs – Monday 2 October, 1:20AM

It’s another late game, but you’d have to call this one ‘can’t miss’. The visit of the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, will take place on Sunday Night Football, as the Jets make their first appearance on SNF in over a decade.

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are once again one of the favourites for the Lombardi Trophy, so if the Jets want to be considered serious contenders, this is a game where they will have the opportunity to lay down a marker.

The MetLife crowd is bound to be energised for this one, and we once again recommend a tactical day off on the Monday if you can…

Week 8 – New York Giants vs New York Jets – Sunday 29 October, 5PM

The New York Derby! For the first time since 2019, the Jets and Giants will go head-to-head in the regular season, as the Jets ‘travel’ to their crosstown rivals.

Off the bye week, and playing at the earlier time slot of 5pm UK due to the end of Daylight Savings, this will be a big game not just for city bragging rights, but to set the tone of the Jets second half of the season.

Week 12 – New York Jets vs Miami Dolphins – Friday 24 November, 8PM

The first Black Friday game in NFL history! The Jets will play host for another [quasi] prime time game in week 12, when the Dolphins come to town, at the UK-friendly Friday night time of 8pm.

The first of two contests with the Dolphins in a four-week stretch, this one could have major divisional ramifications if 2022 was any indicator.

Week 18 – New England Patriots vs New York Jets – TBD, TBD

Although we don’t yet know the date and time of this final week matchup, it’s still worth circling on the schedule.

The Jets haven’t beaten the Patriots in their previous 14 attempts, a dismal record stretching back to 2015. They will hope to get the monkey off their back in week three when the Patriots travel to MetLife, but regardless of how that result plays out, this game could be seismic in terms of implications.

Both teams have playoff aspirations in what looks set to be one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, and the outcome from this one could decide the division winner, seedings or even wildcard spots in a crucial way. Plus, it’s always nice to beat the Pats.

Of course, there are plenty of other mouth-watering matchups on the schedule for this season, including prime time games with the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders as well as the visit of NFC champions the Philadelphia Eagles.

A reminder too that Sky Sports NFL will be showing live broadcast coverage of games each week including all prime time contests, talkSPORT will have exclusive radio rights to several Jets games and all of the action can also be found via GamePass International – more details to come on that front.

We’ll be keeping you up to date too with every moment of the action – so get your diaries prepped now as you won’t want to miss it.

The New York Jets regular season schedule was announced on Thursday night as part of the NFL’s league-wide schedule release.

In 2023, the Jets’ 17-game schedule will include nine home games and eight away, with the schedule rotation meaning they play all four teams from both the AFC West and NFC East.

Their schedule also includes a whopping six primetime games, including the first ever Black Friday game against division rivals the Miami Dolphins.

Better get your sleep in now!

They’ll start the season at MetLife for what looks set to be an electric Monday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills.

After a trip to Dallas, they host the Patriots in the only 6pm UK kick-off until December before another primetime game at MetLife – Sunday Night Football against reigning Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs.

The schedule doesn’t get much easier ahead of the bye, with a trip to Denver followed by the visit of the Philadelphia Eagles – last year’s NFC champs.

After the bye week, it’s crosstown rivalry week, as the Jets play ‘away’ at MetLife for the first time since 2015, vs the Giants. The Chargers and Raiders games follow, both at primetime: the first on Monday Night and the second Sunday night before the Jets play the reverse fixture against Buffalo.

They’ll contest the first ever Black Friday NFL game against the Dolphins on November 24th at the UK-friendly time of 8pm. They then play four games back in the 6pm timeslot, including three at home, the last of which is a Christmas Eve contest with the Washington Commanders.

A Thursday Night Football matchup in Cleveland will help ring in the New Year, before the Jets complete their schedule with a trip to Foxborough in January – exact date and time TBC.

So there you have it! 17 games across 18 weeks, with the Jets hoping that this is the year their long playoff absence comes to an end.

From a UK perspective, it’s going to be a lot of late nights! But with mouth-watering matchups start to finish, the adrenaline will be pumping (along with the coffee) to help get us through.

Chime in on social media with your thoughts, and keep your eyes peeled for more info as the season ticks closer.

The 2023 NFL Draft concluded on Saturday night, as the final rounds played out in Kansas City and the New York Jets finalised their selection of rookies.

There was one fun twist in the tail on Saturday evening when the draft went away from KC however: all the way to London.

With their first fourth round pick, 120th overall, the New York Jets made the pick announcement live from the talkSPORT offices near London Bridge, with six Jets & Bears NFL Girls Flag participants joining radio host Will Gavin for a special presentation.

The Jets selected Carter Warren with the pick, an offensive lineman out of Pittsburgh, who actually grew up a Jets fan in the New Jersey area.

It marks the second time in as many years that the Jets have made a live draft selection from London, following Nick Mangold’s broadcast from the top of the Shard in 2022, when Max Mitchell joined the roster – also making it 2 for 2 in terms of offensive tackles selected here in the UK.

It also helped shine a light on the ongoing Jets & Bears NFL Girls Flag league, which is underway now, with weekly games taking place at Ealing Trailfinders in West London.

Maryam Hashi, 12, was chosen as the lead announcer and did an outstanding job – her Fielding School team will be in action on Thursday, hoping some strong results can boost their chances at winning the inaugural Championship, with the finals taking place on May 22nd.

For more information on the league and teams, please visit the Girls Flag page of our website.