There are few NFL fanbases that understand waiting for the next great chapter quite like Jets fans. The New York Jets enter 2026 in Year 2 under head coach Aaron Glenn, but this isn’t simply the same team getting another season together. Geno Smith is back in New York more than a decade after his original run with the Jets, Frank Reich has taken over as offensive coordinator, and the organization added veteran talent including Minkah Fitzpatrick and Demario Davis. Now comes the important part: turning those changes into wins.
For fans, following the Jets also means keeping track of regional CBS and FOX broadcasts throughout the season. If you live outside the New York market, your local affiliate may carry another game, while traveling can change which streaming services you can access. That’s also where a VPN can be useful for accessing the streaming services you normally use while away from home.
Below, we’ll cover the 2026 Jets, their complete schedule, the franchise history they’re trying to live up to and how to watch throughout the season.
Three Things to Know About the 2026 Jets
Rather than running through the entire roster, there are three developments that stand out entering the season.
1. Geno Smith Is a Jet Again
There’s something fitting about this one. The Jets drafted Geno Smith in the second round back in 2013. More than a decade later, he’s back in New York and once again sits at the center of the Jets’ quarterback plans. This isn’t the same Geno Smith who left New York. He rebuilt his career after his first Jets stint, and now returns as an experienced NFL quarterback. The Jets also drafted Cade Klubnik, giving the quarterback room both a veteran option and a young player to develop. For a franchise that has spent years searching for stability at quarterback, Smith’s return gives 2026 one of the NFL’s more unusual full-circle storylines.
2. Aaron Glenn Is Taking More Control of the Defense
Glenn enters his second season as Jets head coach, but his role is changing. He’s taking over defensive play-calling responsibilities while Frank Reich joins the staff as offensive coordinator. Brian Duker is the defensive coordinator, with Glenn having a more direct hand in how that side of the football operates. The Jets also added veteran help to a young roster, including Minkah Fitzpatrick and Demario Davis. That gives Glenn more experience to work with as he tries to move the team forward in Year 2.
3. This Is Still a Team Being Built
The Jets aren’t approaching 2026 as a finished product. General manager Darren Mougey has emphasized having a clearer organizational vision entering his second season alongside Glenn, and New York continued adding young talent through the draft. That’s important context for this season. Jets fans understandably want results now, but 2026 is also about determining which pieces can become part of something sustainable. And in New York, that search for the next great Jets team has been going on for a long time.
New York Jets 2026 Schedule & TV Guide
The Jets begin the season with three of their first four games on the road, and their Week 13 bye is the latest bye in franchise history.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 13 | at Tennessee Titans | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 2 | Sept. 20 | vs. Green Bay Packers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 3 | Sept. 27 | at Detroit Lions | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 4 | Oct. 4 | at Chicago Bears | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 5 | Oct. 11 | vs. Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 6 | Oct. 18 | at New England Patriots | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 7 | Oct. 25 | vs. Miami Dolphins | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 8 | Nov. 1 | vs. Las Vegas Raiders | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | at Kansas City Chiefs | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | vs. Buffalo Bills | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 11 | Nov. 22 | at Los Angeles Chargers | 4:05 PM | FOX |
| 12 | Nov. 29 | at Miami Dolphins | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 13 | — | BYE | — | — |
| 14 | Dec. 13 | vs. Denver Broncos | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 15 | Dec. 20 | at Arizona Cardinals | 4:05 PM | FOX |
| 16 | Dec. 27 | vs. New England Patriots | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 17 | Jan. 3 | vs. Minnesota Vikings | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 18 | TBD | at Buffalo Bills | TBD | TBD |
The Week 18 date, kickoff time and network will be announced later, and late-season games can be affected by NFL flex scheduling.
From Broadway Joe to 2026: Can the Jets Bring Back the Glory?
You can’t really talk about what Jets fans want from the future without talking about the past. The franchise began as the New York Titans in 1960 before becoming the Jets in 1963. A couple of years later, New York signed a young quarterback named Joe Namath. Everything changed. Namath became the first professional quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a season in 1967. A year later, the Jets reached Super Bowl III against the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. Then came the guarantee.
Namath backed it up, and the Jets defeated Baltimore 16-7 in Super Bowl III. The victory wasn’t important only to New York—it helped establish that the AFL could compete with the NFL before the leagues fully merged. Namath wasn’t alone. Don Maynard became one of professional football’s great receivers and remains atop several Jets career receiving categories, including receiving yards and touchdowns. Head coach Weeb Ewbank built the team that ultimately delivered the franchise’s defining championship. The Jets have had memorable players and seasons since.
But they’ve never returned to the Super Bowl. That’s why every attempt to build something sustainable in New York carries a little extra weight. Nobody expects Geno Smith to become Joe Namath. Nobody needs Aaron Glenn to recreate 1968. The hope is simpler than that. Give Jets fans a team capable of creating some new history instead of always having to look backward for it. That’s what makes 2026 worth watching.
Three Things Jets Fans Sometimes Get Wrong About Watching Games
NFL broadcasting has become complicated enough that a few misconceptions are worth clearing up.
I Have CBS, So I’ll Get the Jets Game
Not necessarily. Many Sunday afternoon NFL games are distributed regionally. Your local CBS affiliate could be carrying another matchup even though the Jets are playing on CBS at the same time. That’s particularly important if you’re a Jets fan who lives far outside the New York area.
NFL Sunday Ticket Has Every Jets Game
No. NFL Sunday Ticket is designed primarily for eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. If a Jets game is available through your local affiliate or another national/streaming arrangement, the viewing situation can be different.
A VPN Gives Me Access to the Jets Game
A VPN isn’t a replacement for a streaming subscription. Instead, it can be useful when you’re traveling and location restrictions prevent you from accessing a streaming service you normally use. You’ll still need access to the broadcaster carrying the Jets game.
Jets Blackouts and Regional Coverage
A Jets game listed on CBS or FOX isn’t necessarily available through that network everywhere in the country. Sunday afternoon NFL games are distributed regionally, so viewers outside the Jets’ assigned broadcast area may receive another matchup.
For eligible out-of-market Sunday games, check NFL Sunday Ticket.
If you’re traveling and already have the correct streaming service but it becomes unavailable because of your current location, that’s a different problem. A VPN may help unblock your normal Jets stream when a location restriction is responsible.
Watching the Jets While Traveling
Imagine you normally watch the Jets through your regular streaming setup in New York. Then Sunday arrives and you’re in another state—or another country. You open the same service and discover that your location has changed what you’re able to access. That’s one situation where a VPN can help.
A VPN changes the IP address associated with your connection. If your streaming service is restricting access because you’re traveling, connecting to an appropriate VPN server may help unblock access to the streaming service you already use. It also encrypts your internet connection, which is useful if you’re watching from hotel, airport or other unfamiliar Wi-Fi.
Our VPN Choice for Jets Fans: ExpressVPN
In our opinion, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Jets fans who travel. We like its combination of fast connections, U.S. and international server options, broad device support and straightforward apps.
The process is simple: Connect to ExpressVPN → open your normal streaming service → find the Jets game.
You’ll still need an account or subscription that includes the broadcast.
Affiliate Disclosure: VPNForSports may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Jets Viewing FAQ
Yes. For eligible Sunday afternoon Jets games that aren’t shown by your local CBS or FOX station, NFL Sunday Ticket is the primary U.S. out-of-market option. Other nationally distributed games should be watched through the network or streaming service carrying them.
Yes, but NFL broadcasting rights and streaming options vary by country. If you’re traveling abroad, a VPN may help you access streaming services you normally use at home.
Check the 2026 Jets schedule above. Most currently announced games are on CBS or FOX.
Where Is the Jets Game This Week?
Don’t make Sunday more complicated than it needs to be. Find this week’s opponent in the schedule above. We’ll keep the schedule updated as broadcast information changes throughout the season. The Jets already have one of football’s most famous chapters. Maybe 2026 can finally give fans a few new pages worth adding to the story.
