It was also their first under the ownership of Woody and Christopher Johnson, who purchased the team in January 2000 from the estate of former owner Leon Hess.

The team tried to improve upon its 8–8 record from 1999 under new head coach Al Groh, who became the successor for Bill Parcells after Bill Belichick abruptly resigned to take the same position with the New England Patriots.

Although they managed to finish one game better than they had in 1999, their 9–7 record (including three losses to close the year) was not enough to make the playoffs.

Like his previous retirement, it proved to be temporary: Parcells was back in the NFL in 2003 as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, where he would remain until 2006.

Practice squad rookies in italics 53 active, 7 inactive, 4 practice squad The Jets were ranked 12th in the NFL in total offense and finished tied with Philadelphia for 10th in total defense.