The Jets are once again in familiar territory. Head coach Aaron Glenn is atop the NFL coaching hot seat after his 3-14 season. It feels like the same story every year: New York’s head coach is nearly fired. The Jets have the longest active playoff drought, having missed the postseason ever ya year since 2010, a span of 15 years. The days of Rex Ryan’s defense with Darrelle Revis and Bart Scott are gone.
Since Ryan’s firing in 2014, the Jets have had five head coaches, including Glenn, who joined just last year. The former Lions defensive coordinator was seen as the solution to New York’s issues. He had great success in Detroit, but a weak roster, injuries, and poor quarterback play turned hope into a nightmare, even with a fairly easy schedule. Jets leadership now faces another likely coaching change.
One season under Glenn may not be enough to judge his ability as a head coach. Many successful coaches had rough starts. Bill Belichick, now seen as the greatest coach ever, went 5-11 in his first Patriots season. He later started a dynasty. Dan Campbell, Glenn’s former colleague in Detroit, began his tenure with a 3-13-1 season before making the Lions a playoff contender. A bad start is not a death sentence.
Still, with first-time coaches like Mike McDonald in Seattle and Mike Vrabel in New England finding quick success, Jets ownership’s patience may wear thin by 2026. The speed of these successes has fostered the belief that immediate results are possible and even expected in the NFL. Is this fair? Likely not, but this is a business, and competition drives decisions.
To add fuel to the fire, the Jets have suffered through the Patriots’ 20-year dynasty, followed by Josh Allen and the Bills’ rule of the AFC East. Now, the Patriots are right back at the top of the division, and New York finds itself still at the bottom. Watching the AFC East switch back and forth between two bitter rivals only makes the situation more tense for Glenn.
The Jets Must Hit a Home Run In The NFL Draft If Glenn Wants To Get Off Coaching Hot Seat
The Jets enter the draft with nine picks, including the number two overall. This draft is critical for Glenn. A successful set of rookies can make or break his time in New York, and the difficulty does not end there. Gang Green has the 12th hardest schedule in 2026, facing the Bills and Patriots twice, along with the NFC North and AFC West. Winning the division, much less making the playoffs, seems like a stretch even from an extremely optimistic view. Just doubling wins could be enough to save Glenn’s job.
Unfortunately, the Jets find themselves relying on journeyman Geno Smith, who is returning to his first team as quarterback. New York drafted Smith 39th overall in 2014, where he played (mostly as a starter) for four years, with a record of 12-18. Bouncing around the league, he finally landed in Seattle, where he found some success, leading to his signing with the Raiders.
As quarterback of Las Vegas, the old Smith returned, as the Raiders collapsed, finishing 3-14. Despite Glenn’s confidence in his new quarterback, stating, “He’s our guy,” at the annual league meeting, Smith is not the answer to saving the poverty-stricken franchise. Unless the former second-round pick can regain what was seen in Seattle, the Jets will be looking for a new coach come 2027.
