The Most CONTROVERSIAL Coaching Decision in New York Jets HISTORY

In a 1975 NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, head coach Charley Winner decided to do something bold with the game on the line. Not only did it backfire, and not only was it immediately second-guessed, but the play wound up contributing in a major way to his firing shortly after. This is the story behind what might be, considering the circumstances and the aftermath, the most controversial coaching decision in the over 60-year history of the Jets franchise
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#nfl #jets #nyjets #nflthrowback
Members of the 1975 Jets:
Pat Leahy
Eddie Bell
Greg Gantt
JJ Jones
Joe Namath
Delles Howell
Burgess Owens
Jerry Davis
Bob Prout
Carl Garrett
Phil Wise
Donnie Walker
Carl Capria
Emerson Boozer
Steve Davis
Bob Gresham
Ed Taylor
Jazz Jackson
John Riggins
Rich Sowells
Roscoe Word
George Hoey
Wayne Mulligan
Steve Reese
Ken Bernich
Jamie Rivers
John Ebersole
Godwin Turk
Rich Lewis
Richard Wood
Joe Fields
Randy Rasmussen
Darrell Austin
Larry Woods
Robert Woods
Winston Hill
Jim Bailey
Carl Barzilauskas
Garry Puetz
Gordie Browne
Richard Neal
David Knight
Jerome Barkum
Ed Galigher
Willie Brister
Billy Newsome
Rich Caster
Lou Piccone
Charley Winner (head coach)
Ken Shipp (head coach)

[@chefz2749]

Under normal circumstances, I would applaud a coach for having some guts and going for it on fourth and 1. But the math was simple - make it a two-possession game. Kick the FG.

[@badgerden7080]

Indeed. Leahy was was a good kicker. I wish he was still young so he could be on the current roster.

[@LegendaryDorkKnight]

@@badgerden7080 The Jets should get his DNA and clone him like the Giants did with Eli Manning to make Daniel Jones.

[@SnakeHiggins]

I mean...if John F'n Riggins, who was pretty much known for finding a way thru regardless, gets stuffed by a defense then maybe just maybe you need to kick the damn field goal.

[@sirlordsoul]

The late, great football writer Paul Zimmerman said that the 1975 Jets -- who he covered for the 'New York Post' -- were the worst team he ever saw. "They didn't give a damn," he said. Unfortunately, I don't think the SI column in which he said that is online anymore, but it was sometime in the 2000s.

[@arizonawrestlinginterviews1040]

If you don't like dysfunction, you don't like Jets football.

[@badgerden7080]

When I became a Jets fan in 1979, I was 9 years old. Someone should have took me to the side and told me, "kid, please root for another team, like Pittsburgh or Dallas. You're in for a lot of heartache rooting for the Jets."

[@praetorian9823]

@@badgerden7080 ironically enough my Dad had a similar fate (at the time) choosing to root for Green Bay. This was during the 1980’s.

[@deansch6089]

Jest ineptitude - the gift that keeps on giving.

[@diaz5292]

Surely you Jest!

[@joeylawn36111]

New York "Jest" - great nickname for them.... 🤣

[@PaulGaither]

For those who don't know, there was the ESPN moment when the fans were holding up the letters: J E S T

[@deansch6089]

@@PaulGaither I don't recall that, so I can't say if it was deliberate or not. But it kinda doesn't matter. I'm not sure which is more awesome - deliberate or accidental?

[@PaulGaither]

@@deansch6089 - I just figured you were referring to it. My friends and I do to this day. J E S T jest jest jest!!!

[@diaz5292]

10:06 I'm sure Mitch Trubisky is thrilled that you used him in your example of a screw up...lol. i can see him sitting on his couch at home, eating chips, enjoying this video and then all of a sudden "What the flyin' f--k?!?!?!!"...lol

[@selfdiscardedkingofruin7291]

I almost forgot John Riggins played for the Jets at one time.

[@joetriolo9161]

sometimes he did too

[@NosferatusCoffin]

Five seasons. '71-'75. Also was the first Jet RB to go over 1000 yards in a season.

[@bridesblade5307]

While sporting a mohawk.

[@aegisofhonor]

you had to dig real deep to find this lemon of a play call in the hundreds and hundreds of lemon play calls by the Jets.

[@yebobbummann1622]

I guess you could say Charley wasn't much of a...winner?

[@SnakeHiggins]

Glad someone made this comment before I could. 🤣

[@MerensWorld]

Charley is a Push 44-44-5.

[@badgerden7080]

Coaches like Winner is the reason why the Jets haven't won a Super Bowl in 52 years. The coaches make bad decisions. The front office make bad decisions. And I made a bad decision to become a fan of this team.

[@martincaidin4166]

pretty rare to find network footage of a regular season game in 1974

[@tedkijeski339]

"That game was so bad that Joe Namath finished 8-for . . . . blah, blah, blah -- with a passer rating of X, which is worse than if you spiked the ball on every down." DRINK!

[@MerensWorld]

Wonder if Fans were screaming for J.J. Jones to come off the Bench that year because Joe had a really bad season. His Int % was 8.6 J.J's was 8.8 but J.J. could at least run. 9 Carries for 59 yards. 1975 Colts, Dolphins, Bils above .500 Jets and Pats 3-11. Wonder what would have happened if the two teams traded coaches. Namath your going to run the Option.

[@Staceyatkinson4496]

Suppose you could say Simpson kills the jets

[@billslocum9819]

He really cut through the secondary.

[@turkc79cb]

😂😂😂

[@84sp84]

He was “Slash” before Kordell Stewart.

[@markbrian7179]

The Jets defense was disgusting in 1975. Charley Winner may have made a bad decision, but with that defense the best that the Jets would have done is 3-11.

[@scottybbadd]

In other words going for it was the best bad decision available

[@gilbertgiles]

I remember this game. Jets had it won. I was 12 years old. Could not believe they went for it. Charley Loser.

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

OJ Simpson kept victimizing the Jets in part because of decisions like this.

[@badgerden7080]

Him and other great players. The Jets always find way to hire the worse people to run their franchise. I put that squarely on the shoulders of their shitty owners, then and now.

[@andyprovin9108]

Hardly the MOST controversial coaching call in Jets history

[@chadakoin1]

You need to do one on that game last year when the Jet's coach called an all out blitz on 4th down. Think it was against the Raiders. Nobody in the secondary. Gave up a td and the lead and the game when all they had to do was knock the ball down in the end zone. It would have been the Jet's first win of the season.

[@OfficialJaguarGator9]

I’ve got you covered: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3mVaZurmZ1poMk

[@FastDuDeJiunn]

i mean to be fair kickers were not as consistant back then. lets just google his stats for the year. for the year he was 62% overall in 1975...... was 3-5 in 30-39 range overall of 1975. longest succesful kick made is mid 40s. 44-47 each year. so a 37 yarder is def pushing their limits..... its no chip shot like nowadays. to be honest i think with the way they were running the ball that game and so on, he made the right call. for 1 yard. either way was about 50-50 chance of making the goal or the 1 yard for first down imo....... both was risky. i guess 3rd option is punt. but to me that dumb. go for the W. to me that be RUN. maybe flea flicker etc. but something. put faith in ur team and let them play ball.

[@B3Band]

No. You're wrong. He made a dumb decision, and you're agreeing with a dumb decision. The fact that you think a flea flicker is a solid option here says it all. Even if they miss the field goal, it's exactly the same scenario as failing to convert the 4th down (back then the miss gave the other team the ball at the line of scrimmage, not the spot of the kick). Even if the Jets had a 62% 4th down conversion rate (same as the FG), it's STILL a worse decision, because the FG results in points, while the first down does not.

[@mondoseguendo6113]

The Jets seem to be the Eddie Mush of the NFL - everything they touch turns to shit. Let’s go Jets!

[@dsmscenester]

A clear cut example of overthinking and trying to outthink the room when Charlie talked about not having trust in Leahy, because he saw another kicker whiffed on a FG. Unreal. Then again, these are the Jets.

[@nasetvideos]

Excellent job with this story. I remember those years very well. I really enjoyed the video clips and story-telling a lot in this one.

[@nasetvideos]

And yes, you have to take the field goal there--No question. Sometimes, I think there should be a "voice of logic/reason" coach on the sidelines just to address these things with head coaches when emotions may get in the way of logical thought

[@ronsmac]

The fg was probably the call but kicking on that dirt in the 70s was by no means automatic like it is today. By the way he was 3/5 from 30-39 that year and factoring the dirt. I’d say it was a 50/50 proposition

[@gordons-alive4940]

Yeah. Kickers are a lot more reliable now than they used to be in general, too.

[@Jason_Maier]

And on 7-2-24; Charley Winner turned the big 100. A winner in life for sure (though not so much with the Jets).

[@mrmoose6619]

Suffice to say that this "Winner" did not coach to win the game.

[@PaulGreen11]

Wait... Joe Ferguson actually completed a pass? Actually did something other than hand the ball to OJ??

[@Rusty3659]

You could've said the same thing about Bob Griese too. The only difference is he had 3 running backs - Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris to constantly hand the ball off to.

[@PaulGreen11]

@@Rusty3659 True

[@joboots007]

A precursor 2 the Lou Holtz “error” (tagged by longtime LB Greg Buttle) the next year,perhaps????

[@82dorrin]

Yup. Holtz was their coach in 1976.

[@B3Band]

1:27 Thanks Weeb I feel personally attacked

[@shackdaddy7106]

And the funny thing is the Jets replaced Charlie Winner in 1976 with Lou Holtz. He quit on his team before the last game of the 1976 season because he knew he wasn’t good enough to coach professional football players.

[@diaz5292]

9:27 What irony....Just 1 yard short, once again...lol

[@Rockhound6165]

Oh, an old friend of mine was on this team. Punt returner Lou Piccone.

[@tygrkhat4087]

Lou later played for the Bills and he was a fan favorite. He came to the Bills at the end of OJ's tenure; so the crowd went from chanting "Juuuice" to "Louuuuu." He was sort of a proto-Steve Tasker; about the same size, fast, sometime WR, PR and KR and played gunner on the punt team.

[@Rockhound6165]

@@tygrkhat4087 he's a good guy. We used to call his dad Uncle Lou.

[@tygrkhat4087]

@@Rockhound6165 One other thing I forgot that Lou and Steve had in common. Both wore 89.

[@wiedep]

Biggest question IS why would ANYONE want to run this mess of a franchise? The most hated man in NYC in '75 was Abe Beame.

[@DNSKansas]

During the 1974 winning streak, the Jets beat the Dolphins and Bills,. They were Joe Namath's only wins against teams above .500 after Super Bowl III.

[@geemac7267]

Charley Winner is still alive! Ninety-seven years old.

[@jacobrklein7175]

I actually understand why he would go for it. You go for it and get the first down, you drain more clock and get a chance for a touchdown. Plus, you have two things to consider: one, John Riggins was on the Jets, and Riggins, being so good in short yardage, you would have thought, would have gotten the first down, and two, Buffalo had one of the most explosive offenses in the league, with OJ running wild and Joe Ferguson having the best year of his career up to that point. No lead was safe against the Bills with 5:00 left in the game.

[@richdouglas2311]

Seriously awesome video. Thanks.

[@youngtimer964]

As a Browns fan, it’s nice to watch videos of other horrible teams.

[@jamespgray6928]

Being from the NY area, I got to watch many Jets games during the Joe Walton era. He picked his nose constantly.

[@skiprockjr.6881]

This is more controversial than Rich Kotite's decision to get out of bed and show up to the game?

[@tomb4575]

Or Herm Edwards in Pittsburgh playing for a 42 yard "chip shot" of a fg with a shacky kicker.

[@WolfDB]

You mention that whenever a QB has a really bad rating, that it's worse than "If you did nothing but spiked the ball every play" but what would the passer rating be if you DID do that?

[@jamesage24]

39.6 That's why he sells a 39.6 shirt!

[@MichaelPiz]

What exactly is the passer rating you get if you spike the ball on every play?

[@danmount9462]

39.6

[@MichaelPiz]

@@danmount9462 Thanks.

[@heliosapollyon4391]

Not only is it a stupid decision but the set they chose did not benefit their situation. Should have gone offset I formation if anything with an extra blocker playing te

[@PaulGaither]

OJ Simpson knifed through the defense. That TD was killer.

[@scottybbadd]

This should've been an In Defense of. What are the odds of the Bills stuffing Right twice? The kick the field goal who says the Bills don't score that quickly on the ensuing drive?

[@senororlando2]

I love how when I click the “skip ahead 10 seconds” button the timer from your trivia ad goes from 0:11 to 0:03.

[@angelsfancrc1]

Whats sad is that when you were saying it was a call that cost the Jets the game and a coach his job, I immediately thought of Cover 0 vs the Raiders

[@OfficialJaguarGator9]

I got you covered: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3mVaZurmZ1poMk

[@gregorypowell9020]

I’m gonna make a drinking game where I take a shot every time I hear him say “ you could spike the ball on every play and have a better rating” I’ve heard nearly all of these and he never lets me down.

[@anthony0358]

Wow as a Jets fan I remember this. game ! It still traumatized me when this happened. and the next year when Lou Holtz resigned with one game left. I remember Charlie Winner , and he was married to Weebs daughter.

[@vincentr.6109]

Am I they only one excited about the next show airing? 7:59

[@RazielXSR]

I look at the thumbnail and still can only think of butt fumble.

[@jmad627]

The thing is, is if they make the first down they control the clock for at least two more minutes, and then kick the FG…I dunno.

[@Rockhound6165]

Winner was actually a decent coach with the Cardinals but like pretty much every other Cardinal coach he had his teams right on the cusp of competing but he just couldn't get them over the hump. In 1968 they finished 1/2 game behind the Browns in the NFL Century division due to a tie against the horrible Stealers but they would have won the division having beaten the Browns twice that season. Then in 1970 they were 8-2-1 with 3 games remaining(the tie was against the defending SB champion Chiefs) and in typical Cardinal fashion lost the final 3 games. Winner was fired after the season and the awful Bob Holloway was brought in.

[@jewsco]

actually announcers critized more back then as howard cowsell is an example of this . its today when they dont

[@garryanthonystx]

Bad coaching decisions happen and can be forgiven. Having a meltdown in post game press conferences after making a bad coaching decision usually comes up to BITE YOU IN THE ASS!

[@tomb4575]

Jets should have named Walt Michaels at that time.

[@stantonthezag1109]

There’s a reason the Jets, Falcons, Bills etc. keep showing up on this channel. If your team seems under represented here, it’s probably because your team has a pretty successful history.

[@Rockhound6165]

Don't forget my Cardinals. We're on here a lot. LOL

[@danmount9462]

I'd love a good video about the Bills some time.

[@tygrkhat4087]

@@danmount9462 He's got the one on the Denver-Buffalo game in 1989 when the Bills scored 3 TDs in 77 seconds; also another when the fans wouldn't leave Rich Stadium after the Bills beat the Rams in 1980.

[@stantonthezag1109]

@@tygrkhat4087 I have recency bias because of the horrible placekicker episode.

[@tygrkhat4087]

@@stantonthezag1109 Yeah, and Leypoldt isn't even close to being the worst kicker in Bills' history...paging Booth Lustig.

[@jamesrfb]

From a fan of the Atlanta Falcons: if you have the lead late and can make it a two-possession lead: PLAY IT SAFE & KICK THE FIELD GOAL!!

[@davidkreutzer4778]

Fun Fact ,,,, @ 3:18 into the video . That's right boys n girls , it's John Friggin Riggings !!! Known as the Diesel

[@mfdixon1985]

His argument that a 36 yard FG is no sure thing because another kicker missed a 38 yard FG is weak for a couple of reasons. 1. As you pointed out, it's a different kicker. 2. It also kind of implies that no RB had ever been stuffed for less than a yard before. If one kicker missing a 38 yard FG is a reason to not have another try a 36 yarder, then why wouldn't one RB failing to get a yard be a reason to not have another RB try it? What's even crazier, you wouldn't even need to look to another RB. Riggins himself got stuffed for less than a yard the play before.

[@scottconner7930]

46 Years Ago

[@marcus813]

Given Winner's reasoning for not trotting out Pat Leahy to make it a 2-possession game, he's a special kind of stupid. I can understand why he was raked over the coals for his mishap.

[@goblinzl1]

one of the first games i watched as a jet. if i only knew lol.

[@Davepool-hs7vr]

Do a video on how Geno Smith became the Jets starting QB

[@danmount9462]

This video exists so Adam Gase doesn't feel so bad

[@michaelnewton5873]

This was also when the goal post was at the goal line not 10 yds deeper

[@diaz5292]

J E T S JETS! JETS! JETS!

[@timsharkey1993]

I know the NFL was a lot different in those days, but as a football fan even back then I thought Namath was somewhat overrated. Looking at his career numbers just now - 47 more INTs than TDs and a QBR of 65.5 makes me wonder even more what all the fuss was about, and how he kept a starting job for so many years.

[@freeparking301]

I decided to look at Johnny Unitas’ career numbers to get an idea of what an elite quarterback would put up statistically at that time to try to solve the Namath enigma. Unitas threw over 250 interceptions and had a completion percentage of 54%, Namath was 50%.. He did throw more touchdowns than interceptions but he like Namath led the league in picks a few times. Now Unitas did blow out Namath in winning percentage and that’s part of the reason I view Namath as bit overrated when it comes to quarterback ability. But I also take into account that the rules are completely different for what corners were allowed to do back then let alone pass rushers. With that being said though he still was part of the evolution of the prototypical gunslinger and threw for 4000 yards in a 14 game season. And I agree what he meant to the league still makes him worthy of the hall of fame.

[@hubertvale5132]

I think this just got topped by the idiotic Wilson QB sneak they called last Sunday against the Bucs. 😩

[@vickrunalza8057]

That Jets Coach sounds like Brian Flores.

[@johnliberty3647]

And Riggins gets into the HOF on another 4th down play Jan 1983

[@josiemorrison8364]

do you have to say " if you did nothing but spike the ball" in every freaking clip i watch!!

[@jeffanderson3962]

OJ really slashed right through the Jet D on that touchdown

[@johnt.kennedy3856]

I see what you did there....

[@scottaznavourian3720]

Btw Charley is 97 years old and still kicking wonder if he's seen this video...

[@brianreid4567]

Only the jets

[@richardtherichard26]

I mean if the offense gains ONE yard, in TWO plays. If the defense doesn’t give up a 64 yard touchdown. And he’s right, a lot can go wrong on a field goal. I don’t think this was a bad decision at all. Maybe it looks bad Bc if the way it turned out but that’s not his fault, he can’t exactly go out there and get the yard or make the tackle himself.

[@diaz5292]

The much needed context: 1:09

[@robinrodriguez480]

Well yea thats right up there with the Seahawks passing it on the 1 yard line with Marshon Lynch sitting in the backfield????

[@bridesblade5307]

Never understood that....ever!!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

The Jets needed some good Mojo.

[@morghenmurdochlundgren8640]

Yeah,if it was on the 33 yard line or more,sure but here is where being aggressive just looks shoddy and o oblivious.Wonder what Joe had to say,lol?

[@thomasanderson6124]

It’s hard to believe rigging couldn’t get the first down on two straight plays. He was a dominating player. I blame the offensive line, not the coach. The coach calls the plays, the players are responsible for executing the play. 2 downs with only 1 yard to go for a first down. I lay the blame on the players.

[@jamesmiller6217]

I would have let Riggins run it too. Not a bad call, just a bad result.

[@Fireyninjadog]

Lou Holtz wouldn't be in the nfl if it weren't for that

[@diaz5292]

Riggins woulda gotten the first down if he wasn't a pipe smoker...lol

[@samuraibeastwarrior2886]

Relocate The Jets to St. Louis

[@joetriolo9161]

Yeah the networks would just love that...

[@scottaznavourian3720]

His rationalizations sound l ike the giants offensive coordinator running the ball cause falling down (the 70s version of taking a knee l) wasn't manly during the miracle in the Meadowlands (he was fired too)

[@sithlordjeffbledsoe651]

It’s hard to believe that was the same ricin’s that Washington had. the diesel

[@jamessollazzo4860]

big deal! anytime you take the game away from pat leahy's eratic foot especially at shea stadium, it's not a terrible thing!

[@82dorrin]

You make a lot of "Well, that was stupid" videos about the Jets.

[@xp8969]

The Jets do a lot of "that was stupid" things, so...

[@bigdrew565]

@@xp8969 yeah, that.

[@jamesryan2464]

Meaningless play in a meaningless game in meaningless season...But it sure was fun going back and watching the debacle...

[@arizonajoe6813]

Much epilepsy. Very seizure.

[@stevengrvp]

It was 1 yard alot would have went for it

[@richdouglas2311]

How is Joe Namath in the HoF? Ugh.

[@sugarbear8574]

Just like Joe Biden, never underestimate the Jets ability to Ef things up.

[@mayduck1]

I think Winner knew his defense was bad and could blow a 9 point lead with very little time left and as one could see they gave up a TD on one play after the failed 4th down. Winner probably should have never been the Jets coach in the first place as he was Weeb Ewbank's son in law and Ewbank named him coach after he retired plus Winner's record as Cardinals coach was marred by late season collapses and racial trouble on the team. I as a Dol-Fan now see why my team dominated the AFC East in the 1970s as the other teams in the division the Colts, Bills and Jets were always having Front Office and Coaching turmoil.

[@CTubeMan]

1. This unofficial Official Jaguar Gator 9 historian will remind everyone you made a video about another coaching decision in which the decision was defensible, but the coach’s explanation didn’t make sense. It was the Cardinals-Chargers Monday Night game in 1971. 2. Also, you made another video about fans turning on a New York coach. Also, watch at 4:23, then watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5m1ZoyEpqpmgZo

[@MerensWorld]

Charley Winner neither a winner or a Loser he is a Push 44-44-5. With the Cardinals and Jets. The jets should have started J.J. Jones all season and ran the option. Namath probably should have retired after 1974. I doubt Namath would be in the HOF without the Victory in SB 3.

[@E-Brightvoid]

Greggggggggggggg willllllllllyams

[@kingporter67]

Charlie should have put Pat Leahy in there to kick that field goal and win that game, however, hell no, Charlie did not do that as a result, Buffalo 24, Jets 23, Charlie Winner should have called Charlie Loser, The Jets had it won, thank goodness Charlie Winner got fired, almost 50,000 Jets fans at Shea demanded the field goal and those fans were correct, what Charlie did was the reason why the New York Jets were 3-11 in those three seasons, an absolute disaster for the New York Jets!!!

[@scottaznavourian3720]

Jets gonna jets

[@stevenbauer4799]

Charley 'loser'. In charley's defense riggo should have been able to get that yard. Bills had the line stacked because gimpy kneed namath sure as #k wasn't a threat to run on fourth down. And the juice always killed the Jets. Just no one thought it would be on a catch out of the backfield for a 64 yd. td run.

[@tygrkhat4087]

The fact that OJ caught it was a feat in and of itself. He didn't have the best hands.