🔥 Aaron Glenn Hot Seat Meter Week 6: Losing might be the least of Glenn's problems

Losing gets coaches fired.

The attitude around that losing, gets them fired faster.

In the case of the New York Jets, head coach Aaron Glenn is speeding up his own termination schedule at every turn.

The importance of tone

Maybe the most important thing a head coach does is set the tone. From conveying expectations to players to creating an atmosphere, coaches are constantly building the brand for the teams they lead.

When done well, the team and organization become an extension of that tone.

Consider Dan Campbell in Detroit and the gritty, tough energy he brings. Anyone who’s ever watched the Lions receivers block has seen proof of that attitude being adopted.

More importantly, every time we see Campbell, whether in interviews or on-field interactions, that culture is reinforced publicly - a concept I'm not sure Glenn understands.

From his continued lightheartedness with referees to his low-energy postgame responses, the depleted feeling around this team may be influenced by their win/loss record, but it’s emanating from their leader at all times.

A gap between feelings and actions

People want to see validation of their feelings in others. Whether it’s shooting eyes between friends in an awkward situation, or a question asked by a classmate that you also had, but felt it might be too stupid to ask, it’s human nature to want to feel seen. To a fanbase that is beyond frustrated, Glenn is coming off as tone-deaf.

For one, the postgame accountability dance is getting old. How many times must we hear Glenn say the Jets "need to be better" or offer a justification for something that went wrong?

Maybe he’s acting differently behind closed doors, or maybe his only goal is to avoid saying something that becomes bulletin board material, but either way, his current approach is conveying an attitude that is different than that of the public, which, for a coach under a microscope, is a problem.

Perhaps Glenn should start pretending that he’s speaking directly to the fanbase instead of reporters. Because while Woody Johnson may have the final say, it’s pressure from those two influences that will ultimately seal his fate.

Nice guys finish never

I've been critical of Glenn being jovial with the refs all season, and even though it happened again in this game, there was a moment shortly after that was even worse.

During a scramble for the ball under a pile, Jets' star receiver, Garrett Wilson, could be seen being friendly with a Patriots defensive back. Shaking hands and acting borderline playful.

While I'm all for respect in sports, the moment itself infuriated me. Not because of Wilson, but because it felt like confirmation that Glenn's lack of edge has officially become imprinted on this entire team.

For a 2-4 team, battling every day against a history of irrelevance and frustration, nastiness isn't just a helpful tactic; it's proof of urgency. More importantly, it's the personality of this city.

The exchange felt like the embodiment of the Glenn-era Jets. Against your biggest rival, with backs against the wall in every sense, it showed that even though the team might be performing better, the bite just isn't there.

It's a common dilemma for coordinators turned head coaches, as attitude is something that is set outside of the X's and O's. But the unfortunate truth is that it's by far the harder of the two to change.

The solution? Start playing hockey

There's a code in ice hockey: Lose the game, but win the fight.

The phrase, alone, is pretty self-explanatory, but the sentiment is important here.

The best teams adopt an "us against the world" mentality, even when it's not true. Tom Brady actually convinced himself that there were still people doubting him after six Super Bowls. But for as delusional as it was, you can't say it didn't work.

Football, much like hockey, is a violent game. If teams label you as soft, you've already lost. At this point, for Glenn, the fight is arguably more important than the record.

New York is a city of energy and the only place in the world where a relentless pursuit of your dreams is the only prerequisite to habitation.

More importantly, it can be incredibly forgiving if you can maintain a certain level of scrappiness. The second that hustle slows, however, someone else will be moving into your studio apartment.

Current Heat: 8.6 ☣️

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