Since 1960
Patriots vs. Jets
The AFC East feud defined by Belichick's shadow
The Patriots-Jets rivalry is defined by one seismic moment: Bill Belichick's resignation as head coach of the New York Jets in January 2000, scrawled on a napkin, that set the stage for a dynasty in New England and two decades of frustration in New York. What was once a competitive AFL-era rivalry became a one-sided affair as Tom Brady and Belichick dominated the AFC East, but the Jets' refusal to accept their role as underdogs gave the matchup a special edge.