The Jets are already fighting for Aaron Glenn's job (and his odds aren't great)
NFL season preview: The Jets are already fighting for Aaron Glenn's job
Aaron Glenn's head coaching debut went about as poorly as it could have.
His offense was largely non-existent. His defense, a point of pride as a coordinator in Detroit, struggled, sold off parts for draft picks, then sank to the bottom of the league. The 2025 New York Jets weren't just bad; they were absolutely brutal to watch.
2026 offers some new additions, but it may not generate a change if Glenn can't adapt. His 2025 team looked rudderless, withered away as the waves of loss after loss crashed down upon them. Now he's tasked with reviving Geno Smith and a roster deep with veteran signees and emerging
young talent. Let's see what he's working with.
Key addition: More than half the starting defense
New York sold off stars last season (not you, Breece Hall) and opted to give head coach Aaron Glenn a mulligan. Now he'll have to show proof of concept with a defense that could have as many as eight new starters following the departures of Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, Quincy Williams and more. The two most interesting veteran additions?
Let's start with Nahshon Wright, who has a bit of Trevon Diggs' boom/bust DNA after allowing five touchdowns and nearly eight yards per target last season but bolstering that with five interceptions and 11 passes defensed. That led to Pro Bowl honors, but he has plenty to prove moving to a defense that was, by far, the league's worst against the pass last season. He failed to earn a starting role in the team's final depth chart after the preseason, which is... not encouraging.
The other intriguing piece is T'Vondre Sweat, a hotel-sized anchor in the middle of the line who had a 13 percent run stop rate despite consistent double-teams. He can line up over center or as a three-technique, using an impressive burst and long arms to shuck blockers aside. It may never result in impressive counting stats, but it will make life easier for his teammates.
Key departure: Coordinators Tanner Engstrand and Steve Wilks
Most of New York's most notable personnel departures happened before last year's trade deadline. Understanding this left head coach Aaron Glenn in an awful spot with an already bad team, the Jets brought him back for a second year but fired the support staff around him.
Frank Reich won a Super Bowl calling plays for Nick Foles in 2017 and dealt with the wrath of David Tepper in his 11-game stint in charge of the Carolina Panthers in 2023. His biggest challenge, however may be coaxing another revival from Geno Smith — 2025's 35th best starting quarterback in a field of 37.
That lift is only slightly lighter for defensive coordinator Brian Duker. The 37-year-old is younger than his starting middle linebacker (Demario Davis is about six months older) and has never served as a full-on coordinator before. He inherits a defense loaded with a strange blend of veteran talent and young prospects, many of whom haven't played together before 2026.
Potential 2026 breakout player: EDGE David Bailey
It's not revelatory to suggest the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft will be great. But Bailey came with a new questions despite consistently wreaking havoc on FBS quarterbacks. His run defense is a work in progress — which is fine, considering the Jets' playoff chances this fall — but his pass rush remains intense and polished.
His explosion off the line has created problems for New York's offensive line throughout training camp. He remains one of the favorites to win defensive rookie of the year.
Position ranks
- QB rank (expected points added per dropback, via RBSDM.com): 29
- WR corps rank: 26
- RB corps rank: 8
- TE corps rank: 18
Will they improve in 2026?
They pretty much have to. Will a modest step forward be enough to save Glenn's job. Probably not.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Jets 2026 season preview: Fighting for Aaron Glenn's job (and it's not going well)
