Effective immediately, the Jets as we’ve known them will never be the same. The passing of beloved team owner Leon Hess early Friday morning has done a number of significant things to the NFL franchise he cherished so much.

First, the unique family atmosphere Hess was such a part of creating though his benevolent, hands-off ownership and Thanksgiving Day visits, is in jeopardy of fading away with the definite prospect of new owners in the future.

And second, it’s a distinct possibility Hess’ death and the highly-likely imminent sale of the team could accelerate Bill Parcells’ departure.

As it stood, even with Hess alive, there was a decent chance that ’99 would be Parcells’ final year on the sidelines – particularly with a Super Bowl berth in January.

This will be Parcells’ third year coaching for the Jets under his six-year contract that included four on the sidelines and, possibly, two as the general manager. He’s being paid an average of $2.4 million a year, but money isn’t as motivating to Parcells as winning and staying healthy.

He’s stated on more than one occasion he doesn’t want to die on the sidelines and, at age 57 (he’ll be 58 in August) it’s clear to those who know him that Parcells wants time to enjoy some of his passions, such as horse racing and golf.

Asked if he’s thought about what effect Hess’ death would have on the franchise and himself, Parcells said, “I haven’t had time. This is not the day to be thinking about my future. I’ve been thinking about [Hess].”

Hess and Parcells were the ultimate owner-coach marriage. Hess was completely hands-off, wanting to know only what he could do to help while staying out of the way. And Parcells is a head-strong, control-freak kind of coach who wants to dictate everything that goes on in the franchise.

“With Mr. Hess, there was no worry about dotting i’s and crossing t’s,” Parcells said. “If he said it, that was it. It didn’t have to be written down. He gained my trust in about five minutes – and that’s really pretty hard to do.”

This was the way Parcells’ contract negotiations went with Hess, according to Parcells:

Hess: “Here’s what I want to do. If it’s all right with you this is the way we’ll do it. How’s that sound?”

Parcells: “That sounds pretty good.”

“That was that, and it was never any different,” Parcells said.

It’ll be doubly hard for Parcells to find that kind of latitude from a new owner. It, too, will be a difficult adjustment for others in the organization when new ownership comes in.

Among the possibilities – though because of respect for Hess no one has publicly stated interest – for new owners include Charles Dolan, Nelson Doubleday, Donald Trump and John McMullen. However, The Post has learned Parcells is likely to put together a group to buy the team, which is the only way the Jet landscape wouldn’t change dramatically.

The bottom line for ’99, though, is this: Despite the organizational uncertainty that’s certain to be a presence, the team will be press on with business as usual this season.

Parcells and his staff remain in place, as does the nucleus of the team that went to the AFC Championship last January. And there have been some significant additions through free agency.

The real questions surrounding the future of the franchise lie beyond the upcoming season.

For now, though, the focus of the 1999 season will be clear: Win the Super Bowl for Hess.

“Bill Parcells said to me a day or so ago when we were talking about Leon and speculating about his health and what might be happening in the very near future how sorry he was that he hadn’t delivered and won the Super Bowl for Leon,” Jets’ president Steve Gutman said.

“We really wish we could have gotten to that final plateau of being Super Bowl champs for Mr. Hess,” Jets’ tackle Jumbo Elliott said. “Maybe in the future we can do it. It would be very nice to fulfill and finalize what we started. Obviously, we want to do it for all our own selfish reasons, but we’d like to do it for him also.”

Because of the unique, caring way in which he treated his players, this is the way Hess made his players feel about him.

“He was a gentleman who always worried about people’s health and always stayed positive,” former Jet Neil O’Donnell said. “The Jets and the game lost a great man. He was always in the locker room early to welcome the players on game days. And, win or lose, he’d always show up in the locker room after the game to join in prayer and shake players’ hands.

“He treated everyone fairly and he knew everyone. When I heard [of his death] I was touched.”

Elliott said Hess not only knew all of his players by name, “whether they were starters or on the practice squad,” he knew things about each player.

“He stood behind us when we won and stood behind us when we lost,” former Jet receiver Don Maynard said. “He never really criticized anyone.”

Parcells, who conceded that he made a conscious push to win it for Hess last year because he was one of the few who knew of Hess’ failing health, said he won’t do anything differently this year.

“I would try to do the same thing regardless,” Parcells said. “I know that’s what [Hess] would want. I don’t think too much would change.”

Not for now.