The release of the 2026 NFL schedule has crystallised the challenge that awaits the Jets when September rolls around and the season starts up once again.

And whilst every game matters equally when it comes to the all-important win-loss record, there are a few particularly intriguing matchups that Jets fans may want to circle in their calendar now.

Let’s take a look at five of the most mouth-watering head-to-heads:

1 – Week 1 – New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans – 13th September, 6pm

The Jets start their season on the road in Nashville with an intriguing matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Both franchises struggled to the tune of three wins in 2025, and will enter the 2026 season looking to show improvement with young rosters that offer hope for the future.

It’s a familiar face at the helm in Tennessee, with Robert Saleh entering his first year as Titans head coach, having piloted the Jets between 2021 and 2024. There are a number of former Jets stars on the roster as well, including Tony Adams, John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson, who swapped places with Jets defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat earlier in the offseason.

The game should serve as an immediate litmus test for the progress made over the offseason for both teams, who will want to show quick improvement in the form of a winning start. The Jets came out victorious in their last visit to Nashville behind a pair of Braelon Allen scores, and will be hoping for more of the same to kick off the 2026 campaign.

2 – Week 2 – New York Jets v Green Bay Packers – 20th September, 6pm

The result of that opening contest is made all the more important by what follows on the Jets schedule. Their home opener at MetLife Stadium against the Packers kicks off a trio of contests against high-powered NFC North teams, with the Lions and Bears lying in wait in weeks 3 and 4 respectively.

The Packers made it three straight playoff appearances in 2025, and six in seven years, with their 9-7 record earning a wildcard berth. The offence remains potent, with Matt LaFleur holding the reins and Jordan Love developing into one of the league’s most dangerous signal callers. The challenge on defence won’t get any easier on the road in the next two weeks against some of the league’s best offences.

If the Jets can find a way to earn a result against the Packers, it will be a huge confidence boost during a tricky opening part of their schedule. One potential reason for optimism: the Packers are likely to be without star edge rusher Micah Parsons, who continues to rehab an ACL injury.

3 – Week 7 – New York Jets v Miami Dolphins – 25th October, 5pm

The Jets start their divisional schedule in week six, travelling to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots, but we are going to highlight their contest at MetLife Stadium a week later, when the Miami Dolphins come to town.

The Dolphins have made a number of changes over the offseason, with a new name at both Head Coach, in Jeff Hafley, and quarterback, in Malik Willis. Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have moved to pastures new, with the team seemingly retooling for the future.

It should provide an excellent chance for the Jets to exact some revenge after losing the season series in 2025, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will no doubt be keen to get bragging rights over his former teammates. An added bonus for fans in the UK? The end of daylight savings will bring kickoff time even earlier, to 5pm for this matchup.

4 – Week 11 – New York Jets @ Los Angeles Chargers – 22nd November, 9:05pm

The Jets travel to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers at SoFi Stadium for the first time since 2020, looking to end a five game winless run against the franchise that extends back to 2011.

The Chargers have made the playoffs via wildcard berth in three of the last four seasons but have been rebuffed at the first round on each occasion. Under the stewardship of Jim Harbaugh, they have been a tough team to beat, and should represent a challenge for the Jets with Justin Herbert at quarterback and a healthy offensive line.

By week 11, the picture for the Jets should start to become clear as far as their season aspirations. If they are vying to achieve a playoff berth, a competitive performance in this contest would go a long way towards confirming their credentials.

5 – Week 15 – New York Jets @ Arizona Cardinals – 20th December, 9:05pm

The Jets play just three games in December after their late bye week, and sandwiched between two home fixtures at MetLife is a trip to the desert to take on the Cardinals. It wasn’t a trip to remember last time out in 2024, when the Cardinals won handily in a 31-6 final on the back of Kyler Murray’s three total touchdowns.

Murray won’t be at the helm on this occasion, although the Jets may yet face him when the Vikings come to MetLife two weeks later. Instead, Jacoby Brissett is the presumed starter at quarterback, bolstered by the addition of electric running back Jeremiyah Love in the NFL Draft. It’s a familar face opposite Aaron Glenn as Mike LaFleur takes his first head coaching role, four years on from his stint as Jets OC.

Whilst the Cardinals have talent on both sides of the ball, it’s another game that the Jets should be targeting as a barometer of their year-on-year improvement. If they are still in contention this late in the season, it could be a must-win trip to set them up for a grandstand finish.

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There are no easy games in the NFL of course, and the Jets will take the season one week at a time as they seek improvement on the 2025 campaign. With an injection of new, young talent on the roster, performances may be considered more important than results, but Aaron Glenn has made it clear that he wants his team to turn winning into a habit.

For fans in the UK and Ireland, the best way to watch the 2026 season will be on NFL Game Pass from DAZN, who will broadcast all games unless selected by Sky for coverage. New York Jets Fan Club MVP members get a 15% discount on the Season Pro product, a saving of over £20. Find out more by accessing the membership club today!

The Jets celebrated the conclusion of their biggest and best season of NFL Girls Flag Football this week, with championship events in Dublin and London leading to two new schools being crowned winners, plus the official launch of the new Jets Flag Elite London – a travel team for top players in the league.

In Dublin, it was St Louis High School who ran out winners, claiming victory in the final 20-6 over Adamstown Community College having gone undefeated without conceding a touchdown during the pool stage of the Championship day.

2026 marked the second year of the Jets NFL Girls Flag League in Dublin, with participation doubling from year 1 to 2, as 160 girls from 16 schools took part. The top six schools then took part in last Friday’s championship, as Holly from St Louis claimed Offensive MVP honours and Andi from Adamstown the Defensive MVP award.

In London, Kingston Academy came out on top, with a thrilling 20-18 victory in the final over Grey Court School. Hosted at the Crystal Palace FC Academy in South London, the Championship also marked the start of a new partnership with Palace For Life, the official charity of Crystal Palace Football Club.

As part of the new partnership, the Jets will expand the league in South London in 2027, adding schools with relationships with Palace For Life. The Jets also hope to bring further events to the Crystal Palace FC Academy in future.

Championship Day on Monday also saw the official unveiling of the first ever Jets Flag Elite London roster, which will provide elite-level skill development and an exciting new pathway for girls participating in flag football across London.

The 2026 NFL schedule was unveiled yesterday, setting the stage for the new season as the New York Jets learned their week-by-week opponents from September through to early January.

Alongside their usual matchups with their AFC East rivals, the Jets will take on the NFC North, the AFC West plus three opponents based on their respective division finishes (Titans, Browns, Cardinals).

They start their season in Nashville, taking on the Tennessee Titans in a matchup laden with storylines. New Titans head coach Robert Saleh piloted the Jets from 2021-2024, while both teams have a number of players that have moved from one franchise to the other, including Jermaine Johnson and T’Vondre Sweat who switched uniforms earlier this offseason in a one-for-one trade.

The home opener at MetLife Stadium week 2 will see the visit of the Green Bay Packers. The Jets last played the Packers in 2022, running out 27-10 winners thanks to a dominant Breece Hall performance but they will have their work cut out in this one to slow down Jordan Love and the high octane Packers offence. The one silver lining may be that they avoid pass rusher Micah Parsons, who is expected to miss the start of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL.

They’ll stay in the NFC North for the next two weeks, travelling to Detroit and Chicago to take on the Lions and Bears respectively. Both should offer stout challenges, with high-scoring offences in difficult road environments that will test the mettle of the new look Jets roster. Detroit in particular will be a challenge that Aaron Glenn will relish as he returns to the place he called home between 2021 and 2024.

The Jets return to MetLife to take on the Browns, before their first two divisional games of the season against the Patriots and Dolphins. The Raiders then come to town in a matchup between the 1st and 2nd overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, setting the stage for two further AFC West tilts on the road against the Chiefs and Chargers sandwiched around a home game against the Bills.

Week 12 will send the Jets to Miami to round out their season series against the Dolphins, before a late bye week sets them up for the final stretch. The Denver Broncos – on the schedule for the seventh consecutive season – visit MetLife in week 14 ahead of a trip to Arizona to take on the Cardinals. The Jets final homestand of the season sees the visit of the Patriots and Vikings, before they finish up with a trip to Buffalo for the second consecutive year.

The good news for Jets fans in Europe? The schedule has zero games kicking off after 9:05pm UK time, with 14 on the schedule currently pencilled in for the 1pm Eastern timeslot. In contrast to some of the primetime heavy schedules of previous years, fans should be able to keep their sleep schedules relatively consistent throughout the season.

2026 also marks the first time since 2023 that the Jets haven’t played an international contest after back-to-back years in London, and their travel schedule will see them among the league leaders in fewest miles travelled. For fans looking to get out to a game in New Jersey, our new partnership with Elite Sports Travel will be putting on the first ever official Jets Fan Weekender this year. The official game and dates will be confirmed in the coming days.

The broadcast information will remain largely consistent from 2025, with most games shown live on NFL Game Pass on DAZN. Sky Sports may carry a few of our games but those details will be confirmed nearer the time, whilst talkSPORT remains the home on radio for NFL coverage.

The New York Jets are igniting the international experience by bringing UK fans closer than ever to Jets football through a new partnership with Elite Sports Travel, the UK’s NFL travel leader. Through customized, all-inclusive US gameday experiences, the partnership delivers exclusive access, premium travel, and unforgettable moments as part of the Jets’ global fan engagement efforts.

“This partnership with Elite Sports Travel allows us to deepen our connection with Jets fans in the UK by delivering a world-class, end-to-end game day experience,” said Jeff Fernandez, Jets Senior Vice President of Business Development + Ventures. “As we continue to grow the Jets brand internationally, we’re focused on creating meaningful, unforgettable moments for our global fan base, and Elite Sports Travel is a strong partner in helping us do that.”

Late in the 2026 season, Elite Sports Travel will offer a fully immersive Jets takeover weekend based around a Jets home game. The trip will include round-trip flights, a 3-night hotel stay, New York Jets game tickets, and various other weekend events. Elite Sports Travel will manage all aspects of the travel experience while working to connect with Jets’ most dedicated UK fans.

“Our clients have been flying out to watch NFL games in the US for years, and the appetite among UK fans for the real American gameday is only getting bigger,” said Ben Welch, Founder and Operations Director of Elite Sports Travel. “Partnering with the Jets means we can offer something genuinely different: not just a ticket and a hotel, but proper access, the kind of moments money normally can’t buy, and a weekend where you are looked after end-to-end. The Jets have been brilliant to work with, and we can’t wait to share that experience with the UK Jets fans.”

In addition to Jets game tickets, fans will enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of either MetLife Stadium or the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, a meet-and-greet with New York Jets legend Wayne Chrebet, and postgame field access for all guests. Those who book before the NFL schedule is released through the exclusive “Early Bird” offer will also receive pregame field passes. Fans will have the option to enhance their package with ticket, flight, and hotel upgrades, as well as extend their stay to experience all that New York City has to offer.

The Jets closed the book on their 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday night, making four Day 3 picks to take their total draft class up to eight players.

The headline acts came on Thursday night, when the Jets made three first-round selections, in the form of Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey, Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq and Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.

Bailey was the second overall selection and the first defensive player off the board, joining the Jets after leading the FBS in sacks in 2025 with 14.5. He provides immediate pass-rush threat off the edge for a Jets defence that struggled to get to the QB last season.

Speaking on stage after his selection, Bailey said: “I’m grateful to all the fans who came out here tonight. I just want to be a sponge, soak up everything and make me the best player I can be to help this organization. I think they want to go in the right direction, and I’m just ready to work.”

At 16 overall, the Jets were widely anticipated to be targeting a pass catcher, but few analysts in the run up to the draft had pegged them as a suitor for Sadiq. The consensus top tight end option in the draft had the college production (51 catches, 560 yards, 8 touchdowns in 2025) and the eye-popping measurables (4.39s 40-yard dash; 43.5 inch vertical leap) to (literally) vault himself into the conversation among the top draft receivers, and so the Jets pulled the trigger on the dynamic playmaker.

“David Bailey said it already,” Sadiq told reporters after his selection. “This organization is trending in the right direction. And I’m just a piece that can help and I’m ready to help. Whatever the team needs me to do, I’m going to do it.”

Their day one work wasn’t quite complete yet. At 30th overall, the Jets traded back into the first round, sending the 33rd overall pick and a fifth round selection (179 overall) to the 49ers in order to select Omar Cooper Jr. The Indiana receiver had been considered one of the favourites to be selected by the Jets at 16 overall, and provides a huge boost to the receiving corps alongside Sadiq.

Cooper led the National Champion Indiana team in receiving yards (937), receptions (69) and touchdowns (13) as the top target of Heisman Award winner Fernando Mendoza. He has shown the versatility to play outside and in the slot, and is the first wide receiver taken in the first round by the Jets since Garrett Wilson in 2022 – which also marked the last time the Jets made three first-round selections.

“My strength is my yards after the catch,” Cooper told reporters. “I have really good, strong hands, and I also can run any route when given the opportunity. And I’m a good run blocker as well.”

Cooper was the first Indiana University player taken by the Jets since 1974, but we didn’t have to wait long for the next one. After a trade back from their 44th overall selection, the Jets used the 50th overall pick in the second round to take D’Angelo Ponds, one of the top cornerbacks in college football.

The player comparison for Ponds? Aaron Glenn, of course. As a fellow undersized cornerback with a ferocity and tenaciousness that belies his size, Ponds had been a game-wrecking force throughout Indiana’s National Championship run, with his pick-six on the first play in the CFP semi-final setting the tone early for the Hoosiers. He’ll have no better mentor than Glenn, who knows a thing or two about playing cornerback in the NFL.

The Jets made two early selections on day three, acquiring defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr out of Florida State with the 103rd overall pick, and then trading up to 110 overall to take Cade Klubnik, a quarterback out of Clemson.

Jackson is a big, strong lineman at 6’5 and 315 pounds, and will bring a physicality to the Jets run defence, with a chance to grow into an impactful pass rusher too.

Klubnik completed 66% of his passes in 2025, with 2,943 yards and a 16:6 TD:INT ratio, as his Clemson Tigers struggled to start the season but found form down the stretch to finish 7-5 in the regular season. He’ll get the chance to learn from Geno Smith this year and refine his skills.

“Really faced a lot of adversity this past year,” Klubnik said. “For me, I figured out how to take a team that’s not winning and transform and go win games to finish with four straight wins at the end of the year. So, I’m all about pushing the guys around me. And I’m a winner and I’m a competitor, and I hate to lose. So, if we’re not winning – we’re going to find a way to win.”

With their final two selections, the Jets added depth to both their offensive line and defensive backs rooms, selecting guard Anez Cooper out of Miami and safety VJ Payne out of Kansas State. Cooper made 45 starts at RG for the Hurricanes, earning all-ACC honors in each of the last three seasons. Payne started 42 games over four seasons at K-State, logging 196 tackles, three interceptions and four forced fumbles.

In total, General Manager Darren Mougey made four draft weekend trades, using three to move up the board and ultimately using just two of the Jets ‘assigned’ picks. A couple of the key themes among the Jets selections? Winning, and speed. Alongside their two national champion selections from the Hoosiers, the Jets leaned into successful programs with a number of their picks, whilst blazing 40 times stand out among their picks from top to bottom.

With US receiver Makai Lemon (No. 20, PHI) and Texas A&M wideout KC Concepcion (No. 24, CLE) still on the board, the Jets opted for a player in Sadiq who will give them a plethora of options. He’ll join a TE room that already includes Mason Taylor and Jeremy Ruckert.

“We’re going to be able to dictate as far as the defense is concerned on what are you going to play,” Glenn said. “Are you going to be in base, are you going to be in nickel? And he brings that value to us. There are so many positions that he can play for us that’s going to make us be able to open up the offense and Frank (Reich) has a really, really good vision for this player.”

Then late in the opening round, Mougey traded the Jets’ first pick of Round 2, No. 33 overall, plus a fifth-round compensatory selection, No. 179 overall, to San Francisco for the 30^th pick of the draft. With that selection, the Jets zeroed in on Cooper (6-0, 199). The versatile wideout led Indiana last season with 69 receptions for 937 receiving yards and amassed 13 receiving TDs.

“Omar Cooper (Jr.) was a guy that we had good grades on and when we saw him there towards the end, an opportunity to give up a comp fifth, pick 179, to get back up and get the fifth-year option and just make sure we got our guy – we felt really good about,” Mougey said. “Again, to add another weapon, a guy that’s got RACs, strong hands, can insert block, has a little versatility to play inside and outside.”

The Jets are scheduled to pick just once Friday night as they hold the No. 44 overall selection in Round 2. The Jets also own two picks in both Rounds 4 (No. 103 and No. 140) and Round 7 (No. 228 and No. 242).

NFL Draft week has arrived! After months of speculation, workouts, pro days and mocks, the Jets will be on the clock this Thursday through Saturday, looking for the next class of rookies ready to make their name at the NFL level.

As of now, the Jets have nine picks in the 2026 draft, headlined by four selections in the first 44 picks as a result of the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades. Looking further into the future, they boast three first-round selections in the 2027 draft, with the team set up well for an injection of talent over the next 12+ months.

All eyes right now though will be on Pittsburgh, where the Jets preside over the 2nd overall pick and the 16th overall pick on Thursday night. There are parallels with the 2021 NFL Draft, where the Jets used the 2nd overall pick and the 14th overall pick (via a draft day trade) to select QB Zach Wilson and OG Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Among the options for the Jets at number 2 this year are Ohio State linebacker Arvel Reese and Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. Reese was a dynamic playmaker during his college career, lining up in a number of spots defensively including at edge rusher, where many analysts believe he could make his biggest impact. Bailey is more of a traditional pass rusher, leading the FBS in sacks in 2025 with 14.5.

Both tested well at the NFL Combine, showing the short-area quickness and burst that tends to translate best at the next level. Either option could slot in to the Jets new-look defence that has already been bolstered by a number of free agent additions this offseason.

Outside of those two defenders, the Jets could opt to add explosive playmakers on offence, with Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate viewed as two of the highest impact offensive options in this year’s class. Also on defence are Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs, both of Ohio State. Styles’ eye-popping Combine performance and Downs’ pro-ready instincts and football IQ have made them both outside bets to go off the board early on Thursday. 

At 16, the board is difficult to foresee, with the NFL Draft predictable only in its level of unpredictability. There will likely be a desire to add talent to the pass-catching room, and a number of high-impact wide receivers including Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, Omar Cooper Jr and Denzel Boston could all be available in the middle of the first along with the consensus top-ranked tight end Kenyon Sadiq.

The options at quarterback are considered a little lighter this year than typical, with a chance that just one QB is taken in the first round for the first time since 2022. The Jets may still look to take a flyer on a rookie at the position, with Ty Simpson seen as a talented if inexperienced signal caller who could go in the first round, plus a number of seasoned college quarterbacks who could be available in the middle-to-late rounds, including Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar and Carson Beck.

Of course, we have to consider the chance that the Jets end up draft day movers, with their cadre of early picks making them a prime candidate to trade up or down. General Manager Darren Mougey has been no stranger to a deal, making 10+ since taking the role last winter, including one on day three of the 2025 NFL Draft. 

With three first round picks stockpiled for 2027 already, the Jets have the flexibility to move around the board to either ensure they get the player they want this year or load up on assets for next year. As Mougey has reiterated many times during his tenure: when the phone rings, he’ll answer.

Once the dust settles on the draft on Saturday night, there will be more work to do for the Jets front office, with the competition for the undrafted free agency class likely to be fierce again. The Jets will get their first chance to look at the new blood on the team during rookie minicamp, which will take place a couple of weeks post-draft.

For fans looking to tune into the action, Sky Sports Action and NFL Game Pass on DAZN will have live coverage of the full NFL Draft, starting on Thursday night / Friday morning at 1am BST. The second day will begin on Friday night / Saturday morning at 12am BST, with the final day live on the same channel from 5pm on Saturday. Tune in then for the chance to see a couple of live announcements with ties back to the United Kingdom…

Alongside the TV coverage, talkSPORT are expected to cover the first round on radio too, whilst we will be keeping fans updated on our social media channels throughout the weekend.

The New York Jets have announced the expansion of the Jets NFL Girls Flag league in Dublin, Ireland. Participation has doubled for the 2026 edition of the initiative, following a successful first year.

The first league of its kind in the country, it aims to increase girls’ access to and participation in sports through NFL Flag – the official flag football program of the NFL. With a fun, exciting, and accessible format, it helps participants build lifelong psychological skills in strategy, communication, and resilience as they work together to plan and execute winning plays.

To mark the start of the initiative’s second year, the Jets welcomed all 160 participants (aged 12-15) from 16 schools across Dublin to the Sport Ireland Campus yesterday for an all-day launch event.

The day began with a special welcome to the Jets family for all the girls, who received their official Nike kits for the 2026 season. A Q&A session followed, featuring special guests: Jamien Sherwood (Jets Linebacker), Marcelino McCrary-Ball (Jets Linebacker) and Mickey McDermott, Head Coach of Jets Flag Elite, who shared stories from their time in the sport and discussed the international growth of flag football and the positive impact of participation.

Action subsequently moved to the field for a quarterback camp featuring several skills and drills stations run by Coach Mickey McDermott, giving many of the girls in attendance their first opportunity to try the sport. McDermott coaches the U.S.-based Jets Flag Elite travel team. The drills and skills stations were held alongside several fun off-field activities for participants, including yard games, a 360° photobooth, and giveaways.

The Jets are passionate about increasing girls’ participation in sport and have committed over $2.5 million to support Girls Flag and create opportunities for girls in football since 2011. In 2025, the Jets supported over 6,000 participants in more than 250 Girls Flag football programs, both domestically and internationally.

“It’s fantastic to be back in Dublin for the second year of our Jets NFL Girls Flag league,” said Jesse Linder, Jets Vice President of Community Relations. “We are building good momentum in Ireland, and we’re thrilled to see participation double in 2026. The Jets truly believe in the power of flag football, and we’re committed to ensuring that all girls have the opportunity to try the sport. We’re looking forward to several exciting weeks of competition and wish all our teams the very best of luck.”

“We’re seeing incredible momentum for girls’ participation across Ireland,” said Dr. Chris Long, Lead Manager, Youth and Grassroots Football Development for the U.K. & Ireland.“Initiatives like the Jets NFL Girls Flag league are vital in creating welcoming, high‑quality pathways into the sport. It’s inspiring to watch these young athletes develop confidence, skill, and a sense of belonging through flag football.”

The 2026 Jets NFL Girls Flag league is the latest activation by the team in Ireland, since they were awarded international marketing rights in the country in 2024 as part of the NFL’s ‘Global Markets Program’ (GMP). The GMP allows NFL clubs to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S. through fan engagement, events, commercial opportunities, and NFL Flag development.

Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with over 20 million players across 100 countries, where women and girls are driving the fastest growth. The sport will officially be included in the LA 2028 Olympic Games program, led by the efforts of the International Federation of American Football and supported by the NFL. AFI is looking forward to working with the NFL to grow Flag Football in Ireland.

The New York Jets announced the creation of Jets Flag Elite London and the return of the Jets NFL Girls Flag League for year four at an exciting dual-launch held at the Ealing Trailfinders practice facility.

The new Jets Elite Flag London is an all-girls Flag football travel team and marks the international expansion of Jets Flag Elite, a program launched by the Jets in the U.S. in 2025. Its mission is to support, elevate, and empower girls’ flag football by giving young athletes the opportunity to connect with the Jets and experience football at a more professional level.

The unveiling of the London-based team is part of a multiyear commitment by the Jets and will feature players from the Jets NFL Girls Flag League in London. Led by Jay Taylor of the Fruit Bats flag football team, it will provide elite-level skill development and an exciting new pathway for girls participating in flag football across London.

Jets Flag Elite London will be backed by a $10,000 grant from the Jets, along with funding for uniforms and equipment. Training together regularly, the team will also travel to the U.S. in the summer to meet other members of Jets Flag Elite from New York and New Jersey, before participating in a tournament state-side.

The exciting announcement was made yesterday by the head coach of Jets Flag Elite (U.S.), Mickey McDermott, during a dual launch event, which also celebrated the return of the Jets NFL Girls Flag League in London for a fourth year.

Established in 2023, the initiative aims to increase girls’ access to and participation in sports through NFL Flag – the official Flag football program of the NFL. With a fun, exciting, and accessible format, it helps participants build lifelong psychological skills in strategy, communication, and resilience as they work together to plan and execute winning plays.

The Jets NFL Girls Flag League in London has seen consistent year-on-year growth in participation, with the 2026 edition set to feature over 300 girls (aged 12-15) from 32 schools across the South, West and East of London.

The day kicked off with a special welcome Q&A for all new and returning participants, featuring special guest: Jets Linebacker and team captain Marcelino McCrary-Ball. This was followed by on-field action with an exciting skills-and-drills element, allowing the girls to showcase their skills.

The Jets are passionate about increasing girls’ participation in sport and have committed over $2.5 million since 2011 to support Girls Flag and create opportunities for girls in football. In 2025, the Jets supported over 6,000 participants in more than 250 Girls Flag football programs, both domestically and internationally.

“We are so pleased to be back in London for our exciting dual launch event,” said Jesse Linder, Jets Vice President of Community Relations. “Each year, we’ve seen the Jets NFL Girls Flag League grow with more young athletes getting involved and elevating the standard of play. Therefore, 2026 felt like the right moment to launch Jets Elite Flag London, which is a very exciting next step for the Jets in the U.K. Best of luck to all 32 teams for their upcoming league fixtures, and we look forward to seeing how the on-field action unfolds.”

“I was thrilled to make the trip and help launch Jets Elite Flag London,” said Mickey McDermott, Head Coach of Jets Flag Elite. “It was a pleasure to spend time with the girls — their knowledge and passion off the field are matched only by their skills and teamwork on it. Watching flag football grow internationally in recent years has been incredibly exciting, and we hope that by launching Jets Elite Flag London, we can build on that momentum, create new opportunities, and inspire even more girls to try the sport for the first time.”

Jets Elite Flag London and the 2026 Jets NFL Girls Flag League represent the latest in-market activations by the New York Jets, who were awarded international marketing rights to the U.K. in 2022 as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program (GMP). The GMP allows NFL clubs to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S., through fan engagement, events, commercial opportunities and NFL Flag development.

“The launch of Jets Flag Elite London represents an exciting and important moment for girls’ football development in the U.K, said Dr. Chris Long, Lead Manager, Youth and Grassroots Football Development, NFL U.K. & Ireland. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen incredible enthusiasm from young players across London, and this new performance pathway will only strengthen the opportunities available to them. Supporting the Jets on this expansion allows us to elevate the sport even further and inspire a new generation of athletes to get involved.”

Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with over 20 million players across 100 countries, where women and girls are driving the fastest growth. The sport will officially be included in the LA 2028 Olympic Games programme, led by the efforts of the International Federation of American Football and supported by the NFL. BAFA (British American Football Association) is looking forward to working with the NFL to grow Flag Football in the U.K.

The New York Jets are delighted to announce their 2025 International Fan of the Year has been selected as Anth Cook from Stockton-on-Tees, UK!

Anth was selected as the Jets representative as part of the NFL’s league wide International Fan of the Year programme, and he will represent the Jets alongside fans from 31 other clubs at the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh later this year!

It is the third year that the programme has been active for, with the Jets previously selecting Frazer Campbell and Olivia Peebles as their representatives in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

Anth has been a consistent advocate for Jets fandom in the UK and Ireland over the years, helping to run the ‘Gang Green UK’ fan group, coordinating with fans across Europe and on both sides of the Atlantic for events, watch parties, tailgates and trips to see the Jets play in person.

He first became a Jets fan back in the late 1990s, when a trip to Hofstra University in New York led to a chance encounter with the team at their training facility. Having seen the likes of Curtis Martin up close, Anth was inspired to find out more about the sport and team, leading to a decades long fandom that has continued to grow.

There were a high number of extremely strong applicants as part of the process for this year’s International Fan of the Year Award, and we thank every fan who took the time to submit a nomination.

Congratulations to Anth and enjoy the NFL Draft!