New York City is home to two NFL teams: the New York Jets and the New York Giants, while New York State is home to three NFL teams: the New York Jets, the New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills.
All three teams have a rich history and a loyal fan base. The Giants were founded in 1925 and have won four Super Bowl championships. The Jets were established in 1960 and have won one Super Bowl championship. The Buffalo Bills were founded in 1960 and have yet to win a Super Bowl championship, but have had four Super Bowl appearances.
While the Jets and Giants are rival teams, they ironically share a stadium in New Jersey, and are a very important part of New York City’s sports culture. Most New Yorkers I know are fans of either the Jets or the Giants, unless they already had allegiance to a football team before moving to New York, but will always root for whichever New York team is playing, unless it is the Jets playing the Giants of course!
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What are the Football Teams from New York?
New York State is home to three NFL teams, the New York Giants, the New York Jets, and the Buffalo Bills.
The Giants
The New York Giants were founded in 1925 and have won four Super Bowl championships, the most recent being in 2011. The team plays their home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which they share with the New York Jets. The Giants have a storied history, with legends such as Lawrence Taylor and Eli Manning leading the team to success over the years.
The New York Giants were founded in 1925 by Tim Mara for a mere $500 investment. Today “Big Blue” is one of the oldest and most storied franchises in NFL history.
Eight League Championships: The Giants have won eight NFL titles in total—four in the pre-merger era (1927, 1934, 1938, 1956) and four Super Bowl titles (Super Bowls XXI, XXV, XLII, and XLVI).
Biggest Super Bowl Upset: In Super Bowl XLII (2008), Eli Manning and the wild-card Giants pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history by defeating the 18–0 New England Patriots.
The New Jersey Connection: Although the Giants represent the New York metropolitan area, they have played their home games across the Hudson River in East Rutherford, New Jersey, since moving into Giants Stadium in 1976 (and MetLife Stadium since 2010).
The Jets
The New York Jets were founded in 1960 and have one Super Bowl championship to their name, which they won in 1969. The team plays their home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which they share with the New York Giants. The Jets have a loyal fan base and have had some memorable moments over the years, including the “New York Sack Exchange” defensive line in the 1980s and the “Butt Fumble” play in 2012.
The New York Jets franchise was founded in 1959 as the New York Titans, playing at the historic Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan. In 1963, new ownership rebranded the team as the “Jets” to reflect their proximity to LaGuardia Airport (they moved to Shea Stadium in Queens) and the dawn of the “Jet Age.”
MetLife Roommates: Since 1984, the Jets have shared a home field with the Giants (first Giants Stadium, now MetLife Stadium). This makes MetLife Stadium the only stadium in the NFL currently shared full-time by two separate franchises.
The Iconic Jets Chant: The Jets boast one of the most recognizable and communal fan chants in North American sports: the synchronized, four-letter rallying cry—”J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS!”—which was popularized by superfan “Fireman Ed” starting in the mid-1980s.
The Bills
The Buffalo Bills were founded in 1960 and have had a loyal following in Western New York ever since. The team plays their home games at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, just outside of Buffalo. While the Bills have yet to win a Super Bowl championship, they have had some successful seasons over the years, including four consecutive Super Bowl appearances from 1990-1993.
Buffalo Bills are the True Empire State Team. Despite three teams bearing the “New York” banner, the Bills are the only NFL team that actually plays its home games within the state of New York (at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, just south of Buffalo).
AFL Charter Member: Founded by Ralph Wilson Jr. in 1959, the Bills began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) before the AFL–NFL merger.
Historic Super Bowl Streak: Between 1990 and 1993, the Bills accomplished a feat no other team has ever matched: reaching four consecutive Super Bowls (XXV, XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII) under Hall of Fame head coach Marv Levy and quarterback Jim Kelly.
Bills Fans: The Bills fan base is widely regarded as one of the loudest, most dedicated, and most charitable in the league. Their infamous traditions include jumping through folding tables in stadium tailgates and donating millions of dollars to opposing players’ and figures’ charities after meaningful moments.
FAQ about New York NFL Teams
How many NFL teams are based in New York City?
There are two NFL teams based in the New York City metropolitan area: the New York Giants and the New York Jets. Both teams play their home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Despite being located in New Jersey, the stadium is considered part of the New York City metropolitan area, and both teams have their headquarters in New York City
Does NYC have a football team?
While there are no NFL teams based within the city limits of New York, both the Giants and the Jets have their headquarters and practice facilities in the city, and are considered New York City football teams, with a very passionate fan base of New Yorkers.
What is the only football team based in New York State?
The only NFL team based in New York State is the Buffalo Bills. The team plays their home games at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, a suburb of Buffalo. Despite being the only NFL team based in the state, the Bills have a strong following throughout New York and the surrounding region.
However, the Jets and the Giants are considered New York teams even though their stadium is in New Jersey.
Why are the New York Giants/Jets not the New Jersey Giants/Jets?
This can be confusing as both the Giants and the Jets play their home games in New Jersey. Both teams have maintained their New York branding due to the teams’ histories and fan bases. The Giants were founded in 1925 and played their home games in New York City until 1976, when they moved to New Jersey. The Jets, originally known as the Titans, played their first season in New York City before moving to Shea Stadium in Queens. The team was renamed the Jets in 1963 and moved to Giants Stadium in New Jersey in 1984.
What are the Football Teams from New York?
Football teams from New York City are New York Giants and New York Jets, while football teams from New York State are New York Giants, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
