Jets' latest player admission is a massive red flag for Aaron Glenn's staff

The New York Jets’ 0-5 start to the 2025 season has already raised plenty of concerns about Aaron Glenn’s first year at the helm. From questionable personnel choices to an underperforming — and at times, seemingly disengaged — roster, numerous red flags have already begun to cloud the early days of the Glenn era.

We can now add yet another red flag to that growing list.

Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson is expected to make his return to the lineup in Week 6 after missing the last three games due to an ankle injury. Johnson spoke to reporters on Friday and revealed that the team held a players-only meeting earlier in the week in an effort to address the mounting frustration within the locker room.

The meeting reportedly included only defensive players and took place shortly before the Jets departed for London. Just five games into the Glenn era, players already feel the need to hold players-only meetings. That's not exactly an encouraging sign for a brand-new coaching staff.

Jets' players-only meeting is a red flag for Aaron Glenn's coaching staff

While the Jets offense has predictably struggled to maintain consistency this season, it's been the performance of the team's defense that has been most problematic. The Jets have a very legitimate claim to the worst defense in the NFL through five weeks.

The Jets currently rank 31st in the league in points allowed per game (31.4) and 29th in overall EPA per play allowed (0.169). They're dead last in the NFL in EPA allowed per dropback and are the only team that's yet to record a takeaway.

In fact, the Jets are the first team in NFL history to start the season 0-5 and not register a single takeaway. This defense is reaching historical levels of ineptitude, and while there are certain untenable roster situations, there's far too much talent in this unit for it to be this bad.

Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams told reporters earlier in the week that his team probably has "the worst defense" in football. That's a jarring criticism from one of the only players on the defense who is performing up to his standard.

But the more concerning aspect of the defensive struggles is that players felt compelled to hold a players-only meeting just five games into the Glenn era. That sense of internal frustration so early in the season reflects poorly on the coaching staff’s ability to maintain discipline and cohesion within the locker room.

It also raises questions about whether the staff is effectively communicating solutions and earning the trust of their players. That extends to both Glenn and, perhaps even more specifically, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. It's a reflection of the players' belief in the Jets' entire defensive staff.

Players-only meetings in the NFL are rarely a positive sign. When a team feels the need to gather without coaches present, it’s often the first hint of deeper dysfunction. History shows that such meetings rarely spark a miraculous turnaround and more often mark the beginning of a downward spiral.

The Jets haven’t reached a breaking point yet, but it’s clear frustration is starting to simmer in the locker room. That’s hard to interpret as anything other than a major red flag for a coaching staff just one month into their first season with the team.