Aaron Glenn just proved the Jets are looking forward not backwards

The New York Jets are like a dog constantly chasing its own tail. They just run in circles and circles.... and more circles, continually chasing something that feels so close yet always proves futile. Their entire history is simply marinating in drama and embarrassment, with almost no reprieve... ever.

Once they think they've cleared rock bottom, the ground gives out and makes way for more rock bottom. From Brett Favre’s torn biceps debacle to Mark Sanchez’s flameout, from Week 17 in 2016 when Ryan Fitzpatrick unraveled the season to the Adam Gase era, to the Zach Wilson years, and then a torn Achilles for Aaron Rodgers, it somehow always gets worse.

But in one simple yet telling quote, new head coach Aaron Glenn made a clear statement about the direction of the Jets franchise. Despite all the "want to throw your eyes in the garbage" level of ugliness in recent years, the new Jets are moving steadfastly, with eyes strictly on what's ahead.

The Jets remain focused on the road, not the rearview

It's not as if all the key pieces of the Aaron Rodgers era are gone. Plenty of core players remain. It's also not as if the players who were unceremoniously kicked to the curb intentionally caused any issues. Most of last year's drama was the fault of the franchise.

But the truth is, the difference in atmosphere from 2024 to 2025 is staggering. It's like a new planet in Florham Park. The team is slowly, but surely, crawling out of last year's wreckage on its hands and knees. But they are moving ahead. And when Aaron Glenn was asked, for the three hundred billionth time, about Aaron Rodgers, he did not hesitate to make his thoughts crystal clear.

"That's been gone, so I'm not going to answer questions about guys that aren't here... It's not relevant to right now."

Aaron Glenn

He did not take the bait. He was asked more specifically about what he saw on tape from Aaron Rodgers last season. The only purpose it serves Glenn to open his mouth about the former Jets' QB is to start a war of words that you know Rodgers would love to engage in.

Whatever he thinks of Rodgers on film is between him, his coaches, and his players. Other than that, any additional talk is just another excuse to hark back to last season.

Did Glenn totally discount Aaron Rodgers as if he's not a threat? Of course not. That's not what this is about. It's not about disrespecting an all-time great. It's about remaining focused on the present. He acknowledged that Rodgers is "a Hall of Fame player," who will "cause problems no matter what."

It's all too easy to get sucked into focusing on the Jets' depressing past. It's painted the team's existence. But curses, jinxes, bad "juju," and all other illogical sports superstitions exist until they don't.

Someone had to be Terry Francona and lead the Red Sox to the 2004 World Series title. Someone had to be a kid from Akron who finally brought his hometown Cavs a championship in 2016.

It takes a special kind of person to turn around a ship that has been lost at sea forever. But those who successfully pull off such a feat don't do so by looking backward.

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