The 2015 New York Jets season was the franchise's 46th season in the National Football League and the 56th overall. The team improved on their 4–12 record in 2014 under former head Coach Rex Ryan. Under new head coach Todd Bowles, they succeeded in matching their previous season’s win count in just five games, starting 4–1. Prior to the season, the Jets made a number of moves, including, re-acquiring Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, two cornerbacks who were instrumental in the Jets previous defensive success, and obtaining Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall in trades. The team regressed to 5–5, before going on a five-game winning streak, clinching their first winning season since 2010. However, it wasn't enough to make the playoffs, as they lost to the Buffalo Bills in Week 17 and the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers, who also finished 10–6, clinched the final AFC playoff spot over the Jets based on a better record vs. common opponents. The Jets finished the season as the league's only team with a winning record to not make the playoffs, and as of 2023, this was the last Jets team to post a winning record. This was also tied with the 2020 Miami Dolphins season as the closest quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick came to making the playoffs in his 17-year career.
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Coaching and staff personnel changes
The Jets fired general manager John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan on December 29, 2014. Offensive line coach Mike Devlin left the Jets to accept the same position with the Houston Texans on January 9, 2015. The Jets hired Mike Maccagnan as general manager on January 13, 2015. The Jets hired Todd Bowles as head coach on January 14, 2015. Jets defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman, defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, linebackers coach Bobby April III, defensive backs coach Tim McDonald, assistant defensive line coach Jeff Weeks, and assistant strength and conditioning coach Jason Oszvart were hired to the same positions by the Buffalo Bills on January 15, 2015. Offensive assistant Tony Sparano Jr. was named tight ends coach on January 15 by the Bills. Quarterbacks coach David Lee was hired by the Buffalo Bills for the same position on January 19, 2015. The Jets hired Chan Gailey as offensive coordinator on January 20, 2015. The Jets hired Kacy Rodgers as defensive coordinator, Bobby April as special teams coordinator, Mike Caldwell as the assistant head coach/inside linebackers coach, Mark Collins as the outside linebackers coach, Joe Danna as the defensive backs coach, Karl Dorrell as the wide receivers coach, and Robby Brown as an offensive quality control coach on January 23, 2015. The Jets hired Pepper Johnson as the defensive line coach on January 24, 2015. The Jets hired Brian Heimerdinger as director of player personnel on January 27, 2015. The Jets hired Steve Marshall as offensive line coach, Marcel Shipp as running backs coach and Kevin Patullo as quarterbacks coach on January 27, 2015. The Jets hired Rex Hogan as senior director of college scouting on January 29, 2015. The Jets hired Jimmie Johnson as tight ends coach, Daylon McCutcheon as assistant defensive backs coach, and Ryan Slowik as assistant defensive line/defensive quality control coach on January 29, 2015. The Jets named Ron Heller as assistant offensive line coach and Steve Hagen as assistant special teams coach on February 3, 2015. The Jets hired John Scott, Jr. as a defensive quality control coach on February 11, 2015. The Jets fired director of pro personnel Brendan Prophett on May 4, 2015.