Ex-Jets coaches look even worse than Aaron Glenn amid terrible 2026 starts

The New York Jets' 1-3 start to the 2026 season is in keeping with the usual goings-on for this franchise as Aaron Glenn sees his hot start fizzle out. There are only a handful of teams that are worse, and many of them are helmed by those who preceded him in New York.

There are five 0-4 teams in the NFL after the first quartet of games, and two of them are being overseen by former Jets head coaches. Todd Bowles' Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Robert Saleh's Tennessee Titans, whom Glenn beat down in Week 1, and a Los Angeles Chargers team with Adam Gase on the staff are all winless.

The Jets may be a poorly run team at the moment, but it appears as though many of the old coaches assumed by other franchises to be blameless in their own poor showings with this cursed franchise appear to be stinking it up at their new joint as well. Turns out getting the green and white off doesn't turn you into Chuck Noll all of a sudden.

Three former New York Jets head coaches are 0-4 to begin 2026 season

Bowles is the least objectionable entry here. While his team is 0-4, all of their losses with Baker Mayfield in the fold were competitive, and his injury led to undrafted free agent quarterback Jalon Daniels starting in a defeat against the Green Bay Packers. He seems likely to be fired at the end of the season, but he's had success in Tampa Bay.

Gase has the least responsibility for his team's bad start, but there is some delicious irony on display here. Gase, who had his offense rank dead last in New York despite his background, goes to a team with Justin Herbert in his prime and Mike McDaniel at the sticks, and this team may be as disjointed as any in the NFL.

Saleh's problems are well known to both Titans and Jets fans at this point. With his defensive scheme looking increasingly outdated, his inability to work with a developing quarterback, and a leadership style that seems to be wearing thin, Saleh's Tennessee tenure is looking eerily similar to how he started off in charge of the Jets.

Former New York Jets head coaches continue to struggle outside

The Jets have a reputation as a blight on any hypothetical coach's resume. The opposite is true. A coach can be as bad as humanly possible with the Jets, and that performance will be excused with the tried-and-true "who could ever possibly win with the Jets?" axiom. Not only are jobs guaranteed, but they are often at the same level they had with the Jets.

The downfalls of these coaches are all manifesting in the same way Jets fans who watched them closely said they would. Bowles' scheme is outliving its usefulness and getting stale; Saleh has no idea how to develop a young quarterback and can come off as a bit cheesy; and Gase's coaching advice is better left unheeded.

The Jets have had four permanent head coaches over the last decade, and none of them look capable of leading an NFL team.

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