For those in the public eye who choose to treat the media as an enemy, they tend to get one.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn regrets the approach he took to those who cover his team during his first year on the job.
“Absolutely. Absolutely,” Glenn told Jonathan Jones of The Athletic. “Another mistake. Because I came in and I was already pissed at something else, had nothing to do with the media. And then I started to think, man, take it out, these guys and gals, and for what? They had nothing to do with this here. That was a mistake.”
Glenn admitted to other mistakes in a lost first season, one that could have been his only season if he didn’t have a very large buyout.
He also regrets building a staff that underwent a significant overhaul after Year 1.
“I kick myself in the ass for that,” Glenn said. “When you have a vision for something, and as you execute it — sometimes you got to pivot. And I think the toughest people, just in general, are the ones that are not afraid to pivot and not afraid of what anybody else will say on the outside. Because if you don’t pivot, you crash and burn.”
Another factor that kept Glenn from succeeding in 2025 was the decision to entrust the QB1 job to Justin Fields. That alone could have been the difference between Glenn and his former Detroit colleague, Ben Johnson, who thrived with Caleb Williams.
“I’m not here to make any excuses like that,” Glenn said regarding the bad hand he was dealt at quarterback.
Of course, Glenn had a role in cutting the cards. The Jets picked Fields, giving him $30 million guaranteed on a two-year deal. They could have pursued other options. They could have signed Daniel Jones or Sam Darnold. They could have traded for Geno Smith. They could have drafted Jaxson Dart.
While it’s unclear who made the final call on Fields, there’s never been a suggestion that the Jets signed Fields over Glenn’s strenuous objection.
Regardless of last year, the pressure is on this year. Time is not on Glenn’s side. He needs to win in Year 2, or there may not be a Year 3.
Which would explain the willingness to be a little more cooperative with the media. If the final decision is close, he’ll need those voices arguing to the fans for another year — and not clamoring for yet another coach.
