The New York Jets have revealed their preseason schedule for 2026, featuring three games to prepare them for Aaron Glenn’s second season as head coach.
The schedule includes two games against teams they haven’t faced much in the summer over the past two decades, alongside their regular summer opponent. They are set to play against one former Jets head coach and two familiar opposing head coaches who are bringing new energy to their franchises.
Jets to Face Buccaneers, Steelers and Giants
The Jets will kick off their preseason at MetLife Stadium against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coached by Todd Bowles, who previously led the Jets from 2015-18. This marks only the second time in the last 20 years that the two teams have met in the preseason.
Following that, they will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers, now under the leadership of Mike McCarthy, in a match-up that hasn’t occurred in almost a quarter of a century.
The preseason will conclude with a game against the New York Giants. The Jets will be the home team at MetLife Stadium, with the Giants, guided by head coach John Harbaugh, as the visitors for what will be the 57th meeting between the two sides in the last 58 summers.
A Look at the Matchups
Game 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, MetLife Stadium, Friday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m. The Jets and Buccaneers have a history in the preseason, having played seven times between 1987 and 2006. The Jets were on the road for all seven of those games. Since then, they’ve only met once in the preseason, in 2023, when the Buccaneers defeated the Jets 13-6 at MetLife.
- The Jets are 3-5 in the preseason against Tampa Bay.
Glenn is hoping to see some defensive interceptions during the game. In the 1995 opener at Tampa Bay, Glenn made the first interception of his career off Trent Dilfer. Two years later, in the Jets’ 1997 summer opener against Philadelphia, Glenn returned a Ty Detmer interception 97 yards for a touchdown.
Game 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers, Acrisure Stadium, Friday, Aug. 21, 7 p.m. The Jets and Steelers were once regular preseason opponents, meeting eight times from 1971-2002. After losing the first five games, the Jets won two of the last three.
The teams’ preseason relationship then went on hiatus. An August game was scheduled between the two in 2020 at MetLife, but it was canceled due to COVID.
McCarthy is taking over from Mike Tomlin as head coach. Pitt is waiting to see if Aaron Rodgers will return to the fold after leading their offense last year. Even if Rodgers is on the Pitt roster in August, the ball will likely be placed in the hands of QBs Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and third-round draft choice Drew Allar.
Game 3: vs. New York Giants, MetLife Stadium, Friday, Aug. 28, 7:30 p.m.
The Jets’ preseason schedule includes games against familiar foes and a former head coach, setting the stage for an intriguing lead-up to the regular season.