ONE COACH FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM
This is not the first time I’ve been pumped about a new Jets head coach. As a matter of fact, rather than list the coaches I was excited about, here are the only ones who didn’t excite me— Rich Kotite, Al Groh, Todd Bowles and Adam Gase.
Aaron Glenn is the 22nd head coach in New York Jets history, but the first to have played in more than one game for the organization. Glenn played 121 games as a Jet in his Pro Bowl career, while Walt Michaels, who coached the Jets from 1977-1982, played in just one.
Glenn’s got a lot of the qualities that I liked in other Jets coaches:
- He’s got infectious energy like Pete Carroll.
- He’s not afraid to trade barbs with the media, like his mentor Bill Parcells.
- He’s a good communicator like Herm Edwards.
- He preaches discipline like Eric Mangini.
- He’s confident like Rex Ryan (though not as cocky) .
Glenn’s record as a head coach is 0-0. Therefore, I’m not sending him directly to the Hall of Fame like I prematurely did during the “Man-Genius” era. Instead, we are going to let things play out. But I’m not going to let 15 years of bad football prevent me from being optimistic.
For example, it is very common for new head coaches to distance themselves from their team’s previous issues. Not Glenn. In his press conferences, he hasn’t thrown Robert Saleh, Jeff Ulbrich or even Nathaniel Hackett under the bus. He owns the fact that his team was not disciplined in 2024 and made it a point of emphasis in OTAs and training camp to make the Jets more disciplined in 2025.
It is also very common for new head coaches to surround themselves with “their guys” both for comfort, and to help garner trust with their new players. For example, Ryan had success bringing LB Bart Scott and FS Jim Leonhard with him from the Baltimore Ravens. Glenn didn’t feel the need to do so. The only former player Glenn brought to the Jets wasn’t even on “his defense”. It’s WR Josh Reynolds who played for Glenn’s Detroit Lions in 2023, and GM Darren Mougey’s Denver Broncos (and Jacksonville Jaguars) in 2024.
Speaking of “his defense” — Glenn made it very clear in his introductory press conference that he was coming to New York to coach the entire team, not just the defense. He’s the first Jets head coach to do that since Mangini in 2006.
As a result, there is no “us” vs. “them” in Florham Park. No “old guys” vs. “new guys”. No
“my guys” vs “their guys”. No “defense” vs “offense”. Just one team, pulling in one direction.
Glenn and Mougey inherited a bad football team, but not a bad roster. Rather than coming in and “blowing it up” to give them more time to build, they recognized the talent that former GM Joe Douglas and Saleh had assembled and took ownership of that talent. Now they are adding to it.
Look, it’s not easy to win in the NFL. The Jets are going to need two things they haven’t had much of in the last 15 years. First, they need Woody Johnson to step back and let his football people run the show. Second, they are going to need a few breaks.
I’ll save my 2025 prediction for below. But I’ll make a more important prediction. If left alone, Glenn and Mougey can finally make it safe to root for the Jets again — without fear of being a Saturday Night Live or Curb Your Enthusiasm punchline.
EVEN ROME DIDN’T BUILD A FOOTBALL TEAM IN ONE DAY
On March 10, we posted “New York Jets Need 10 Starters in Free Agency & NFL Draft”. Even Vince Lombardi, Bill Walsh or Bill Belichick would struggle to fill all those needs in one off-season. That’s why it is not surprising the Jets are still scrambling to fill the depth chart at wide receiver and defensive tackle.
As a recap, here was our list of the Jets Top 10 priorities back in March:
- QB1 (Justin Fields, signed as a free agent)
- RT (Armand Membou, drafted in the first round)
- LB (Jamien Sherwood, re-signed with the Jets)
- DT (Harrison Phillips, acquired via trade last week)
- WR2 (Josh Reynolds, signed as a free agent)
- TE (Mason Taylor, drafted in the second round)
- FS (Andre Cisco, signed as a free agent)
- SS (Tony Adams, re-signed with the Jets)
- CB2 (Brandon Stephens, signed as a free agent)
- WR3 (Allen Lazard, re-worked his contract with the Jets)
In a perfect world, Justin Fields makes the Baker Mayfield/Sam Darnold leap, and the Jets can strategically use their top two picks in next spring’s draft on a WR & DT, like they did this year with RT & TE. For now, the Jets will continue to try and improve those positions on the margins.
PASSING TARGETS
As of August 27, the Jets’ WR room includes Garrett Wilson and a Gang of 9 Other Guys.
- Josh Reynolds (active)
- Allen Lazard (active)
- Arian Smith (active)
- Xavier Gipson (active)
- Tyler Johnson (practice squad)
- Jamaal Pritchett (practice squad)
- Quentin Skinner (practice squad)
- Brandon Smith (practice squad)
- Irving Charles (Reserve/PUP)
If you still haven’t participated in your league’s fantasy football draft, my advice to you is to seriously look into RB Breece Hall and TE Mason Taylor. With this receiving group, I would not be surprised if Hall and Taylor finish 2-3 in team targets in 2025.
EXTRASENSORY PERCEPTION (“ESP”, NO “N”)
The schedule makers did the Jets no favors by having them open against three 2024 playoff teams — Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite this, I am going to take a glass half-full approach with my prognosis.
- The Jets defense stays in the Top 10. Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams make All-Pro, Quincy Williams makes the Pro Bowl, and Jermaine Johnson is named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
- The Jets running game is ranked in the Top 10. Breece Hall reaches 1000 yards for the first time, Braelon Allen adds 700, and Justin Fields crushes the Jets current QB record of 453 rushing yards set by Al Dorow in 1960.
- Justin Fields does not make a giant leap as a passer, but he limits his turnovers and gels with Mason Taylor as third-down safety net.
- Glenn’s emphasis on discipline pays off as the Jets move from the most penalized team in the NFL, to middle-of-the-pack.
- Health holds up, not exposing their lack of depth.
If it all breaks right, the Jets finish 9-8, their first winning season since 2015. Ironically, just like Parcells’ first season in 1997, Glenn’s team falls one game short of the playoffs. But we all remember what happened in 1998.