The New York Jets Flag Crew Had Embarrassing Mistake Sunday

01/05/2025 05:05 PM

The New York Jets found a fitting way to encapsulate their 2024 season.

Entering the year with high hopes, the Jets will instead extend the NFL's longest playoff drought. They entered Week 18 with a 4-12 record in a disastrous season involving major personnel changes.

New York closed its season on Sunday by hosting the Miami Dolphins. The AFC East matchup began with a silly mistake that perfectly represents the franchise's incompetence.

Before the game, the team's flag crew displayed an oversized flag upside down at MetLife Stadium. They went to the tunnel to rectify the error, but the Jets players already entered the field before they could return.

Here's a look at the blunder, courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein:

The Jets flag crew is headed back to the tunnel after trotting team flag out…upside down. pic.twitter.com/LK4bVB8O7i

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) January 5, 2025

Not much has gone right for Gang Green this season.

A returning Aaron Rodgers was supposed to vault the Jets into contention, but they entered Sunday 24th in yards and points. The four-time MVP has mustered 6.6 yards per attempt with an 89.1 quarterback rating.

The organization fired Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start. They have since lost nine of their last 11 games behind interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, and a typically stout defense has allowed 27.2 points per game since the change. More franchise upheaval followed when the Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas.

The Jets later experienced further embarrassment when The Athletic published a report claiming Woody Johnson rejected a trade for Jerry Jeudy because of the wide receiver's Madden rating. The owner also allegedly takes advice from his teenage sons, who have criticized players in the team's locker room.

It wasn't a great sign for the organization's culture that starting cornerback D.J. Reed said he's "ready to go to free agency" following New York's Week 17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Along with finding a new head coach and GM, the Jets may also need to make a change at quarterback if the 41-year-old Rodgers retires.

The Jets have spent the last decade as an NFL laughingstock. An upside-down flag won't help shed that reputation before they embark on a pivotal offseason.

Related: Jets Starter Has Telling Admission On If He Wants To Stay With Team