Neil O’Donnell

Ever since legendary Jets quarterback Joe Namath retired, the Jets have been searching for a franchise quarterback to lead the team to the promised land. They once thought they had their guy in Neil O’Donnell.

O’Donnell inked a five-year, $25 million deal with the Jets in 1996, a year after leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl.

The Jets figured that they would be getting a quarterback in his prime, as O’Donnell was only 29 years old when he signed. Instead, they got a quarterback in decline.

O’Donnell lost every game he started in 1996 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He wasn’t much better playing for Bill Parcells in 1997 and was released after only throwing 21 touchdown passes in two years with the team.