Head coach Lou Holtz Home field Shea Stadium Division place 4th AFC East | Owner Leon Hess Record 3–11 Playoff finish did not qualify | |
The 1976 New York Jets season was the 17th season for the team and the seventh in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 3–11 record from 1975 under new head coach Lou Holtz. The Jets again finished with a record of 3–11, which combined with the departure of Holtz before the end of the season, prompted John Facenda to say about the Jets during the NFL Films highlight film for that season "Perhaps the best thing to say about the 1976 New York Jets season is that it's over".
The only teams that the Jets defeated in 1976 were the 2–12 Buffalo Bills (twice) and the 0–14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jets were 0–9 vs. teams with a winning record.
The 1976 season was also the twelfth and final year with the Jets for quarterback Joe Namath.