Aaron Glenn’s coaching mindset has a Jets veteran ready for violence

Perhaps because he played for so long in the NFL, New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn is a throwback to a time when those involved in the sport itself still weren’t afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeve.

And for all that went wrong in Glenn’s first year with the Jets, there was no denying that he’s an authentic, genuine soul. He’s far from Robert Saleh’s forced optimism and cliché phrases, and anyone is better than Adam Gase’s detached, vacant look on the sidelines.

Upon signing with the Jets this past offseason, former Bengals pass rusher Joseph Ossai didn’t need long to realize that Glenn’s fiery demeanor isn’t an act.

“There’s no way you leave a room or a defensive meeting, and you don’t want to run through a wall,” Ossai said. “I can’t wait to run through a couple walls this year.”

New York Jets players clearly genuinely love and respect Aaron Glenn

At times in Glenn’s first year, it felt like he might not even make it to Week 18. But perhaps the most notable feat was how, by and large, the team remained extremely competitive even after trading Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at the deadline.

The younger players maximized their opportunities, with tight end Jeremy Ruckert landing a contract extension and Adonai Mitchell solidifying himself as a legitimate starting receiver.

That’s not to paint a revisionist history narrative about the Jets' 2025 campaign. They lost their final five games by a combined 134 points, and quarterback Brady Cook never topped 200 passing yards in any of those starts. There’s a reason why Cook has received absolutely no attention throughout the offseason.

But Glenn has repeatedly proven that he knows how to connect with players, and that’s not an easy task. Those who come from the Bill Belichick coaching tree, most notably Josh McDaniels and Joe Judge, lacked that sense of humanity needed to be successful head coaches. McDaniels is among the greatest offensive coordinators in modern league history, yet he flamed out in both Denver and Las Vegas.

Rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. recently compared Glenn to Curt Cignetti, who led the Indiana Hoosiers, of all teams, to a national championship. Cornerback Jarvis Brownlee raved about Glenn on social media following an upset victory over the Falcons. 

Teams typically only fire a coach after one season if the situation is untenable (Urban Meyer) or they believe they can land an elite and established replacement, as the Patriots did when they swapped Jerod Mayo for Mike Vrabel.

Sure, the saying is that nice guys finish last, but don’t confuse Glenn’s authenticity with kindness. Not when his speeches have veteran defensive linemen ready to commit vandalism in his honor.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow