After more than a decade of pouring heart, soul, and green into New York Jets home games, a devoted fan known as “Captain Jet” has decided he’s had enough.
Real name Ray Hoffman, a fixture in the end zone famous for his green cape and spirited presence at MetLife Stadium, revealed this week that he will not renew his season tickets for the 2026 season, a dramatic break from tradition that underscores growing discontent among the Jets‘ most loyal supporters.
In a series of Facebook posts that quickly went viral, Hoffman laid bare the reasons behind his choice.
“Ok gang just got my bill for next year $2600 for my one seat,” he wrote, noting the steep price “for calamity they have [been] putting out there.”
Days later, Hoffman doubled down on his decision, making clear that his fandom isn’t gone, just his financial commitment.
“After all the years of doing this I’ve opted out not that the organization would give a crap and all the fans bailing out they just don’t give a crap ticket master is going to feast on what’s left they doubled my ticket price,” he said.
For Jets fans, who have endured a long run of losing and upheaval, Hoffman‘s announcement struck a chord far beyond one seat in the stands.
Frustration meets economics
New York‘s on-field product in 2025 did little to placate the frustration of supporters. The Jets opened the season with a seven-game losing streak and limped to a 3-10 record by mid-December, sealing another season without a playoff appearance.
A 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins eliminated New York from postseason contention for the 15th consecutive year, feeding into a sense of stagnation that’s made even die-hard fans question their commitment.
Quarterback play, often a lightning rod for criticism, failed to inspire consistent confidence. Justin Fields struggled for rhythm and was eventually replaced, and injuries further crippled offensive continuity.
Rookie Brady Cook has been thrust into the spotlight, with head coach Aaron Glenn saying of the young signal-caller, “Man, I have all the confidence in the world … He’ll have his opportunity again this week.”
At the same time, the financial side of fandom has grown more burdensome. The Jets raised season-ticket prices for 2026, drawing ire from supporters who felt the increases came at an inopportune moment given the team’s lackluster performance.
Allan Simon, another long-time ticket holder, said the jump was “almost [a] 5% increase for me. They keep increasing the price of the product, but the product on the field gets worse.”
Fans have taken to social media platforms to express their angst over soaring costs and disappointing results, with many pointing to incremental price hikes in recent seasons as a tipping point.
