The New York Jets just inched closer to the top of a professional sports list. Of course, it’s not a list you’d want to be proud to headline.
On Friday night, the Seattle Mariners walked off against the Texas Rangers, 2-1, and walked into the playoffs for the first time since 2001, ending a 21-year postseason drought, which was the longest drought among all four major sports in North America.
As a result, the Jets move up on the list and now sit with the second-longest active postseason drought in all major sports. The Jets have not reached the playoffs since the 2010 season. The team that now holds the longest active drought is the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, who haven’t tasted playoff basketball since the 2005-2006 season. The Kings haven’t even had a winning record or reached 40 wins in a season since then. The Jets have at least had a winning season since 2010, going 10-6 in 2015 and also went 8-8 in 2011.
Not only do the Jets have the longest playoff drought in the NFL, they hold the distinction by five years over anyone else. The next-longest is the Denver Broncos, who haven’t reached the playoffs since winning Super Bowl 50.
For those wondering, or even care, the longest MLB drought now, at least for the moment, belongs to the Philadelphia Phillies, last qualifying in 2011. In the NHL, it’s the Buffalo Sabres, last reaching during the 2010-11 season, putting them pretty much in a tie with the Jets.