Aaron Glenn and NY Jets catch major strays from Vikings legend in unprompted rant

When a team has spent as much time in the NFL basement as the NY Jets, they’re bound to become the butt of the joke on multiple occasions. The Jets have often been the target of leaguewide ridicule — even when they’ve done nothing to deserve it.

That was the case again on Tuesday when the Jets became the unexpected target of a certain Minnesota Vikings legend's ridiculue during a press conference at the team's facility to celebrate his recent Hall of Fame induction.

Longtime Vikings defensive end Jared Allen spoke to reporters on Tuesday and covered a wide range of topics, most of which were related to his playing career, but he took a moment to throw shade at the Jets as well.

Allen spoke about the current state of the Vikings and insisted that his team was "close" to reaching the top of the NFL. He then made it clear that he'd rather his team be close and fall short than, well, be the Jets.

"We’re close. And again, I’ll state the obvious. We’ve been close for a long time. The next hurdle in the Vikings organization is, ‘How do we get there?’ And that’s just the truth. But the reality is, too, only one team gets there every year. Right? I’d rather be close than, freaking, who sucks? The Jets? Oh gosh. Being the Jets would be miserable right now. I just can’t believe anybody took that job. Woah, rough one."

Jared Allen

Jared Allen clowns NY Jets during Hall of Fame press conference

The Jets were the first team that came to mind when Allen tried to think of a team that "sucks." He then took an indirect shot at new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, bluntly stating, "I just can’t believe anybody took that job."

Of course, the Jets have long been a punchline in NFL circles, and Allen’s jab is just the latest in a long history of digs at the franchise. That's what happens when you go 14 straight seasons without a playoff appearance.

Years of misery, front-office blunders, and a seemingly never-ending quarterback carousel have made them an easy target for ridicule. Even when the team appears to be on the upswing, as they do now, past failures have created a reputation that’s difficult to shake.

The Jets hope that the arrival of Glenn will allow the team to shed this reputation, but it won't be easy. Many coaches before Glenn have tried and failed to rid this organization of the stench that permeates the walls of Florham Park.

The only way to change the narrative is to start winning football games. It's a process that likely won't materialize in 2025 — much like it didn't in Glenn's first year in Detroit — but the hope is that within a few years, the Jets will no longer be the punching bag of the NFL.

Until that day, however, the Jets remain the go-to target for NFL mockery — the team everyone loves to laugh at, whether they deserve it or not. Jared Allen isn't the first, and he certainly won't be the last.

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