New York Jets

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: Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The New York Jets who currently play in the AFC East Division of the NFL were one of the original charter members of the AFL joining in 1960 under their original name of the New York Titans. They enjoyed reasonable on field success during their three seasons as the Titans but financially things didn’t go so well and in 1963 the near bankrupt franchise was bought out by a new syndicate for $1,000,000 who changed their name to the New York Jets. In 1964, the Jets moved from the run down Polo Grounds to the custom built Shea Stadium, and set an AFL attendance record of 45,665 in the season opener against the Denver Broncos.

In 1967 they finally managed a winning season and the following year won their first divisional title and after a hard fought win over the Oakland Raiders in the AFL Championship game advanced to Super Bowl III where the Jets came up against the mighty Baltimore Colts. Their victory in the game still stands as one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history (although their Hall of Fame Quarter Back Joe Namath Confidently predicted success pregame) and this was the first time an AFL team won the big prize.

They again made the playoffs in 1969 but then went 11 years without a winning season before finally breaking this sorry streak by making the playoffs in 1981. Since1981 they have been moderately successful losing in three Conference championship games and making the playoffs 10 times.