At least one former NFL general manager was unimpressed by the energy the New York Jets showed during Aaron Glenn’s first season as head coach, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
“He did nothing with the culture,” the former GM told Cimini. “He 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 also criticized Glenn’s decision-making, especially his choices to start quarterback Justin Fields and hire former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, according to Cimini.
A midseason firing of Wilks didn’t help the Jets turn around the 2025 season, which the team finished 3-14 to mark a 10th straight campaign with a losing record.
Despite that record, which will only net the Jets the No. 2 pick after the 3-14 Las Vegas Raiders earned the top selection based on their strength of schedule, Glenn is set to return for a second season in 2026.
Glenn is reportedly signed through the 2029 campaign after agreeing to a five-year deal with the Jets last January.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini recently reported that Jets owner Woody Johnson was “heavily involved” in hiring Glenn, and that at least one team source sees the coach as “Woody’s guy.”
Glenn will now be tasked with making more successful personnel decisions in his second season with the franchise, including with finding Wilkes’ replacement.
Previous reports had tied former Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale as a candidate for the Jets’ DC position.
The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt reported Monday that Glenn “is still sorting through how he wants the staff/structure to look as he revamps things,” and “the search is still underway and multiple candidates are being looked at.”
Landing on a DC hiring and quarterback selection, as well as improving in game management, could potentially allow Glenn to make his case to stick around in New York by leading a stronger second-year campaign.