Nick Folk has been in the league long enough to know when a team is heading in the right direction-even if the record doesn’t show it. And after drilling a 56-yard game-winner as time expired to lift the Jets to a 27-24 win over the Falcons, the veteran kicker made it clear: this group, under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn, is starting to find its footing.
That win pushed the Jets to 3-9, and while that’s not a number anyone’s putting on a banner, it’s a far cry from where they were just a month ago. This team started 0-7.
They were losing tight games, getting edged out by last-second field goals, and struggling to find any rhythm on either side of the ball. But now, with Glenn steering the ship and Tyrod Taylor taking over under center, things are beginning to turn.
Aaron Glenn Is Building Something
What’s changed? According to Folk, it starts with the head coach’s approach.
“The biggest thing is his belief, number one,” Folk said of Glenn. “And number two, he’s very truthful with you.
He’s not going to blow smoke. He’s honest about everything that’s going on around the building.
He’s truthful to every player, whether you play good, bad, or indifferent. And I think guys respect that.”
That kind of authenticity resonates in NFL locker rooms. Players can smell inauthenticity a mile away.
Glenn, a former player himself, knows that. And it’s clear his straightforward style is earning him buy-in from a roster that could’ve easily checked out after an 0-7 start.
A Season of Missed Chances and Narrow Margins
It’s fair to wonder how different this season might have looked had Glenn opened up the quarterback competition a little more during training camp. Justin Fields got the nod early, but the offense sputtered out of the gate.
In Week 1, the Jets lost a heartbreaker to the Steelers on a 60-yard Chris Boswell field goal. Two weeks later, Tampa Bay walked it off with another last-second kick.
Then came the trip to London, where they lost a low-scoring 13-11 slugfest to Denver. The following week, they managed just six points in a loss to Carolina.
At 0-7, things looked bleak.
But since then? The Jets have strung together wins over Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.
Not exactly playoff contenders, but wins are wins-especially for a young team trying to build confidence. And with Tyrod Taylor now entrenched as the starter, the offense has looked more composed and efficient.
Taylor’s veteran presence has brought some much-needed stability to the huddle, and it’s showing in the team’s execution.
A Culture Shift in Progress
Folk sees something brewing beneath the surface.
“There’s a really resilient group of guys in this locker room who come to work every day, work their tail off, try to get better,” he said. “And I think you’re seeing that from everyone.
We’re playing better football. It’s not obviously the best football, not where we want it, but it’s getting better.
And A.G. is doing a great job of keeping us getting better, keeping us headed in the right direction. And I just think there’s a lot of promise for the future of this organization.”
That’s not just lip service. It’s a reflection of a team that’s starting to believe in its identity.
Glenn, along with first-year general manager Darren Mougey, has made it clear they’re not just playing out the string. They’re trying to establish a foundation-one built on effort, accountability, and growth.
Looking Ahead
The next test comes on Dec. 7, when the Jets host the 5-7 Miami Dolphins. Oddsmakers have the Jets as 2.5-point underdogs, but that’s not the story here.
The real narrative is about whether this team can keep stacking progress. Can they continue to compete, to fight, to show that this recent stretch isn’t just a blip, but the beginning of something real?
It’s been a long time since Jets fans had reason to feel hopeful in December. But with Aaron Glenn at the helm and a locker room that’s still locked in, this group is starting to show signs of life. And if they keep trending in this direction, the losing seasons might not be part of the conversation for much longer.