In the 2017 Major League Soccer season, New York City FC enjoyed a strong campaign under head coach Patrick Vieira, finishing 2nd in both the Eastern Conference and the overall standings with a 16-9-9 record. They secured a first-round playoff bye but were eliminated in the Conference Semifinals by Columbus Crew. Captain David Villa led the team offensively, scoring 22 league goals, while new additions like Maxi Moralez and goalkeeper Sean Johnson helped solidify the squad.