It’s only training camp but Aaron Glenn is already winning over Jets fans

It's kind of like the feeling you used to get as a kid on Christmas Eve, knowing you were going to wake up to a bunch of gifts the next day. But instead of a little kid, it's a 53-year-old professional football coach. And instead of children's presents, it's the first day of NFL training camp.

The New York Jets opened camp on Wednesday, and I'm sure plenty of Jets fans were excited to read and hear about day one. It's safe to say that no one was as excited as the new leader, though. Glenn told reporters on Wednesday that he woke up at 3:30 a.m. in the middle of the night, out of sheer excitement for the following day.

Glenn was not alone with his thoughts, however. He was accompanied by a comforting text from his wife, which was sent at 2:30 a.m. It was a brief and simple message, but a meaningful one as well.

"Just be AG," she wrote.

And that's all Aaron Glenn needed to kick off the 2025 season.

Aaron Glenn is bringing a new culture to the Jets organization

I'm not going to predict the Jets' record for the upcoming season, and I'm not going to make an argument for the likelihood of Glenn's success. While we all seem to be happy with him so far, he may fall flat on his face. And in seven years, I'll be writing a "Worst NY Jets coaches of all time" blog that includes him.

What I will argue, however, is that Aaron Glenn has brought an unquestioned shift in mentality since his arrival. That probably sounds pretty obvious, but all coaches preach culture when they start a new gig. Very rarely does it feel genuine.

This feels genuine. Glenn's history as a Jets player gives him a unique perspective on the franchise's context, more so than any coach in Jets history.

Sure, Bill Parcells had coached in New York prior to taking the Jets job, and Rex Ryan's father was a coach for the team decades ago. But Parcells hadn't dealt with Jet-specific heartbreak, and Rex's memories of the team dated back to his infantile days.

Glenn was a regular in the Jets' secondary for the better part of a decade, and it wasn't 40 years ago either. He knows what it's like to play in East Rutherford, he knows what it's like to lose as a Jet, and he knows exactly how strongly the fans react to everything. He's wired and ready to go. Nothing shows this better than his inability to sleep the night before.

He woke up in the middle of the night, and as previously stated, his wife had a loving text waiting for him. Granted, it was likely for him to read when he woke up after sunrise, but weirdly, it almost feels like she knows her husband, and she knew he would be up at that time. Given the passion he exudes every time he speaks, it wouldn't surprise me.

Everything feels like sunshine and rainbows, but Jets fans know better than anyone how quickly that changes. We're excited now, but in three or four months (maybe even sooner), we might all be sulking the way we are used to. Who knows?

There are still plenty of storylines to play out and questions to be answered. The secondary is top-heavy, so eyes will be focused on the performance of additions Brandon Stephens and Andre Cisco.

With so little depth at wide receiver, there will be a lot of focus on which receiver stands out as the No. 2 behind Garrett Wilson. And, of course, everyone will be hanging on every pass Justin Fields throws.

But for right now, before we have seen anything, good or bad, it's okay to acknowledge that the feeling is different from what it has been in years. This could be recency bias, but I don't think there's been energy like this since the 2010 season with Rex and company. The team isn't anywhere near as talented. But still, in a way, there's something similar about the vibes.

As mentioned, the excitement could very well be short-lived, and some of the more negative fans will be waiting for the other shoe to drop. But don't tell that to Aaron Glenn. Because today, he is more than ready for the season to start. Hopefully, the players follow suit.

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