Aaron Glenn spent the offseason trying to restore faith around the Jets, but Sunday in Chicago did the opposite.
New York’s 23-12 loss to the Bears looked respectable at first glance, yet the numbers behind it told a much uglier story. Chicago piled up nearly 500 yards of offense and ran 89 plays to the Jets’ 32, turning what showed up on the scoreboard into something far more lopsided in reality.
The defeat was New York’s third straight, and if this keeps up, the Jets are staring at an 11th consecutive losing season.
“Inside that locker room, I want my guys not to think about history, because it’s going to be brought up so much from the outside, people beating us down with history,” Glenn told reporters. “We just have to circle the wagons and not let any of that come inside our locker room.”
The problems run deeper than the record. The Jets were flagged 12 times for 76 yards, another sign of a team that keeps tripping over itself. And on defense, the front seven that came into the season with high expectations has not delivered the kind of disruption needed to change games.
According to The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt, there are 218 defenders who recorded at least 25 pass-rushing snaps from Weeks 2-4. Rookie edge rusher David Bailey is the only Jets player with at least a 9 percent pressure rate, and his 10.6 percent mark ranks 90th league-wide.
The sack total looks better on paper - the Jets have nine - but the production has not come from the players expected to carry the load. Will McDonald has an 8.9 percent pressure rate and only one tackle for loss, a Week 1 sack of Cam Ward. Offseason additions T’Vondre Sweat and Joseph Ossai still have not recorded a tackle for loss.
New York does have 17 tackles for loss, which is right in line with the league’s 17.7 average. The issue is finishing. The defense is getting some early stops, but not enough plays that actually swing possession or stop drives cold.
That combination - undisciplined football and a pass rush that isn’t paying off - has the Jets off to a 1-3 start.
Glenn’s personality helped keep the fan base hopeful through the offseason, even after last year’s brutal finish. The Geno Smith trade and a well-regarded draft class made it easier to look past the fact that the Jets were outscored 188-54 over their final five games, with the sense that 2026 would look very different.
Now the questions are getting louder. Between the defensive breakdowns and some baffling offensive decisions, Glenn is running out of room to steady things.
Still, a midseason firing does not appear imminent; barring a total collapse before Thanksgiving, the Jets are unlikely to make that move in the coming weeks. Saleh’s dismissal in October 2024 was the first midseason coaching change of the Woody Johnson era, which began in 2000.
If New York does move on from Glenn before season’s end, offensive coordinator Frank Reich is the only staff member with NFL head-coaching experience. Even so, the offense’s repeated struggles have put his own job security in question heading into next Sunday’s matchup with the 3-1 Browns.
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Jets May Finally Get WR Help But One Question Still Looms
The Jets receiver room may be getting a little healthier soon, which comes as welcome news for an offense that has had to navigate injuries to key pass-catchers. Tim Patrick has now completed the required four-game absence and is eligible to return to practice, giving the team at least a chance to add some experienced help back into the mix after a stretch of uncertainty.
Omar Cooper Jr. is still a longer wait, since he remains on injured reserve and has to sit out at least one more game before his practice window can open. So while the roster picture is beginning to brighten at receiver, the bigger question for the Jets is how quickly that help can actually show up on the field, and whether Patrick will be ready to contribute right away once he ramps up. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Opponent Suddenly Has A Quarterback Issue To Sort Out
The Browns have opened the clock on a pair of injured-reserve returns, designating quarterback Dillon Gabriel and defensive tackle Kalia Davis to come back to practice. Cleveland now has 21 days to decide whether either player gets activated to the active roster, a timeline that adds another layer to a quarterback room already worth watching from afar.
Gabriels return is the more interesting subplot for Jets watchers because it forces Cleveland to sort out where he fits behind Deshaun Watson and backup Shedeur Sanders. Even before the Browns make a decision, the move hints at more quarterback evaluation work ahead, and any shuffle there is the kind of thing opponents keep an eye on as they prepare for a game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Just Got An Uncomfortable New QB Option
The Jets quarterback picture already has a few moving parts, and now another one has been dropped into the mix. NFL analyst Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently floated New York as a possible trade destination for San Francisco backup Mac Jones, putting a concrete price on the idea with a conditional 2027 second-round pick.
Jones has already bounced from the Patriots to the Jaguars to the 49ers, and he is currently sitting behind Brock Purdy in San Francisco. For the Jets, it is another reminder that the search for insulation behind Geno Smith is not necessarily finished, even with rookie Cade Klubnik in the building after being drafted in 2026 and getting preseason reps. [Read more 🡒]