New York Jets' Playoff Drought Stands Alone After Sabres' Clinch

The Buffalo Sabres ended their 14-year postseason drought, leaving the Jets as the only North American pro team with a longer drought.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:51pm

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The NHL's Buffalo Sabres clinched a playoff berth on April 4, 2026, ending their 14-year postseason drought. This achievement leaves the NFL's New York Jets as the only North American professional sports team with a longer active playoff drought, at 15 years. The Jets' drought is now the longest in major North American sports, surpassing the previous longest droughts held by teams like the Los Angeles Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Charlotte Hornets.

Why it matters

The Jets' extended playoff drought has become a source of frustration for the team and its fans, as the organization struggles to return to championship contention. With the Sabres ending their own lengthy drought, the spotlight now shines even brighter on the Jets as the lone holdout among major North American pro sports teams.

The details

The Sabres clinched their playoff spot with a Detroit Red Wings loss, marking the first time Buffalo has reached the postseason since the 2010-11 season. Meanwhile, the Jets have not made the playoffs since 2011, making their drought the longest active one in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. New Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has vowed to end the team's playoff drought and build a consistent winner in New York.

  • The Sabres clinched their playoff berth on April 4, 2026.
  • The Jets' last playoff appearance was in the 2011 season.

The players

Aaron Glenn

Head coach of the New York Jets, who is committed to ending the team's lengthy playoff drought.

Rich Cimini

ESPN reporter who covered the Jets' playoff drought in a story on April 4, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“I want to leave a legacy, I do. When I'm gone, man, I'm looking at this team being a team that consistently puts themselves in a place to win.”

— Aaron Glenn, Head Coach, New York Jets

What’s next

The Jets will look to end their 15-year playoff drought in the upcoming 2026 NFL season under new head coach Aaron Glenn.

The takeaway

The Jets' extended playoff drought has become a source of frustration for the team and its fans, as they remain the only North American pro sports team with an active drought longer than a decade. With the Sabres ending their own lengthy drought, the spotlight now shines even brighter on the Jets to finally return to the postseason.