Aaron

Glenn

Cimini also believes the Jets do not feel “pressured” to draft a quarterback in 2026 because they have three first-round picks in 2027. That said, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, general manager Darren Mougey, OC Frank Reich and QB coach Bill Musgrave had dinner with Simpson last night and hosted him for a private workout today. The Jets hold the second, 16th, 33rd and 44th picks in this year’s draft. We certainly agree that the Jets have many needs, but finding a starting quarterback tops the list. Simpson could still end up in a Jets uniform next month.

It confirms one of the worst-kept secrets in the league after the Jets passed up on numerous other coordinator options to land on unheralded Brian Duker as their defensive coordinator. Glenn said “play calling is my superpower, really.” Well, it’s good to have one of those. We’ll see how it lasts with this Jets roster. It certainly can’t be worse than it was last year.

The former front office official told ESPN’s Rich Cimini that the lackluster effort on the part of Jets players was a telltale sign of a head coach who had not done anything to shift the team’s miserable culture, like his former boss, Dan Campbell, did in his first year with the Lions. Glenn “talked about swagger and toughness, but I didn’t see any of that. They played like a bunch of guys punching time clocks; they didn’t want to be there,” the former GM said. Glenn’s Jets struggled through a hopeless 3-14 season in 2025, posting one of the most lopsided scoring margins in recent NFL history. Glenn, a defensive specialist, gave total control of the defense to Steve Wilks, who was fired late in the season. New York was the first team in NFL history to go an entire season without an interception. Jets owner Woody Johnson will give Glenn another season to turn things around, Cimini said, because he was very much involved in hiring Glenn last offseason.

Despite sitting at 3-13 with one game left to play, the Jets will give Glenn a second chance in 2026. The former Lions defensive coordinator was brought in to turn the team around this year. Instead, the Justin Fields experiment flopped and Glenn’s side of the ball failed to contribute anything to the cause. The Jets currently rank 30th in points allowed. As Battista notes, Glenn is expected to make some changes to his staff during the offseason. Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand could be asked to fall on his sword after a dismal season from the offense. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was fired in the middle of the season.

Rapoport weaved the news into a segment where he explains that the Jets “next move” is to find a franchise quarterback by using the 2026 and 2027 NFL Draft picks haul that the team acquired before this season’s trade deadline. Rapoport indicates that a franchise quarterback could be found via the draft or by trading away picks. While Rapoport’s phrasing suggests the Jets plan to acquire a franchise quarterback this offseason, it is worth noting that the segment was backdropped by a graphic showing two first-round picks and two-round picks in 2026, plus three first-round picks and one second-round pick in 2027. Rapoport narrates by saying “Glenn is expected to be there” with GM Darren Mougey, “making those picks.” Given the Jets’ 2025 failures under Glenn, we assume the first-time head coach does not actually have guaranteed job security through 2027, though Rapoport’s phrasing leaves room for interpretation. Expect Glenn to get another shot in 2026 at the very least.

Welp. That’ll be one for the career obituary on Justin Fields. It seems clear that the Jets owner has not soured on Aaron Glenn and instead believes that the Fields play was simply a mistake. The Jets have not announced anything about who their quarterback will be this week, but ownership doesn’t usually just say something like this about a pass offense with a quarterback they intend to keep starting.

The NFLPA report card, which included responses from nearly 1,700 active NFL players, had Johnson as the only owner to get a failing grade. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell, and Panthers owner David Tepper were the only owners to get a D on the NFLPA’s report card. Johnson received a B- grade in 2023. “Rather than addressing concerns, players believed that management responded to feedback by making conditions worse,” the report said about Johnson and the Jets higher ups. It’s hardly a surprise that Johnson would get such low marks after another failed season, his commitment to Aaron Rodgers, and reports that Johnson’s children had made roster decisions based on Madden ratings. Johnson, who reportedly took control over the Jets front office midway through the catastrophic 2024 season, would do well to step aside and let head head coach Aaron Glenn take charge of the organization.

The connection of Glenn to the Jets has been made for months and came into focus earlier this week when the team brought him into New York for an interview with the plan of hiring him on the spot. Glenn’s ties to the franchise run deep. The Jets drafted Glenn, a former cornerback, in the first round 30 years ago and he even spent time in the organization as a scout after his playing days were over. Glenn served as a DBs coach in New Orleans and followed Dan Campbell to Detroit in 2021, accepting the position of defensive coordinator. In 2024, Glenn led the Lions to top-10 ranks in EPA per play and total points allowed despite the team being bombarded by injuries on the defensive side of the ball. He now joins a Jets team with plenty of talent on defense including Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. The offensive side of the ball is the bigger issue, meaning Glenn’s choice of offensive coordinator will be crucial.

The Jets and Aaron Glenn have been flirting with each other through the coaching cycle and the Divisional Round elimination of Glenn’s Lions is speeding things up. He interviewed with the Jets on Tuesday and is expected to be named their head coach soon. Rosenblatt adds the Jets’ staff “has been operating as if it will get done” and the team is “informing candidates that they are going in another direction.” Glenn has been the Lions’ defensive coordinator since 2021, keeping the team afloat through major defensive injuries this season, prior to the playoff exit. The 52-year-old will be a first-time head coach, faced with rebuilding the Jets after a short-lived Aaron Rodgers era.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said the Jets’ “goal is to keep him from leaving the building” and to sign him to a deal. Glenn is also in the running for the Saints and Jaguars head coaching jobs after four years as Detroit’s defensive coordinator. The Lions defense over the past two seasons has given up the league’s 12th lowest offensive success rate and the 11th lowest EPA per play. Glenn would face a total rebuild in New York after the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers experiment went belly up. Adding fuel to the fire is the idea that Commanders executive Lance Newmark, who worked with Glenn in Detroit before taking his current gig, will also be interviewing and in the building today.