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The New York Jets' social media team picked an odd moment to celebrate during Sunday's 24-16 loss to the Chicago Bears — and sports radio icon Mike Francesa was not impressed.
With the Jets trailing 13-3 early in the second half, the team's official X account posted a graphic hyping rookie running back Braelon Allen's 26 rushing yards on four straight carries. The stat itself was modest, the context worse: New York's offense had barely touched the field, and the Bears were controlling possession at will.
Francesa, appearing on NBC Sports' "Fanta in 60," initially doubted the post was legit, saying: "I'm not familiar with this. You're saying the Jets themselves … now, I don't know if that's real or not. In this day and age, we don't know what's real or what's not."
He then delivered the line that quickly made the rounds: "The Jets can screw up a one-car funeral. They are a mess. They are terribly run — from the owner on down. Nothing they would do that is stupid would ever surprise me."
As of Wednesday, the post remained live on X, a reminder of just how far the organization has fallen from its brief Week 1 highs, when both New York teams celebrated rare simultaneous victories.
The loss itself was arguably worse than any social media blunder. Chicago dominated time of possession 42:15 to 17:45, ran 89 plays to New York's 32, and even Bears linebacker Devin Bush admitted afterward it was one of the "easiest" games of his NFL career — the kind of quote that stings for weeks.
The Jets now sit at 1-3, with persistent issues on both sides of the ball. Their offensive line has struggled to protect Aaron Rodgers, the run game has been inconsistent, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich's unit continues to allow long, clock-eating drives.
Here's the deeper problem: this is not an isolated gaffe. The franchise has cycled through quarterbacks, coaches, and general managers for over a decade, but the same chaos continues. The social post fits a pattern — a front office and marketing arm seemingly out of step with on-field reality.
Former Jets offensive lineman Damien Woody piled on during ESPN's "Get Up" Tuesday, calling the post "tone-deaf" and noting that "when you're 1-3, you don't post a graphic like that unless you want to be mocked." Woody's remark echoes the sentiment of a fan base that has grown weary of empty hype.
Up next is no easy fix: New York hosts the AFC North-leading Cleveland Browns (3-1) on Sunday. Cleveland's defense ranks among the top five in pressure rate, and the Browns will likely test a Jets offensive line allowing nearly four sacks per game.
Francesa, who spent decades covering the Jets for WFAN, wasn't done with his critique. When asked what he'd do if he ran the team, he quipped: "First thing? Ban social media from the building until they win a game. Then maybe fix the line. Or both."
The quip drew laughs, but the underlying frustration is real. For a team that opened the season with such hope — Rodgers back, a revamped defense, playoff expectations — the fall has been swift and familiar.
Whether the Jets can stop the spiral remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the social media team's decision to celebrate 26 yards in a blowout will not soon be forgotten, especially by a Hall of Fame radio legend whose patience has run out.
The 2024 season is far from over, but for Jets fans, the recurring sight of the team shooting itself in the foot has become almost routine. And as Francesa might say, that's the most predictable miserable outcome of all.
