New York Jets: Neil O’Donnell
The Jets were in need of a quarterback going into the 1996 season, and they went with O’Donnell. By no means was O’Donnell anything special at the position, but he had just helped the Steelers get to Super Bowl XXX and he was a safe option. The Jets gave him a five-year deal worth $35 million, and they would come to regret it.
O’Donnell started six games in 1996, and the Jets went 0-6 in that span and finished the year 1-15. O’Donnell actually played somewhat well the following year, though. He threw 17 touchdowns to just seven interceptions and the Jets went 8-6 in his 14 starts.
The above-average campaign didn’t save O’Donnell, though, and he was released at the end of the season. He started 11 games for the Bengals the following year in 1998, throwing 15 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
O’Donnell was never a terrible quarterback, he was just placed in a lot of bad situations in the years after being in Pittsburgh. It also didn’t help that Rich Kotite was his head coach in New York upon his arrival in 1996. Regardless of the circumstances, the Jets were hoping O’Donnell could give them a spark, but he was a guy who needed a lot around him to win.