Aaron Glenn’s first year with the Jets was a rough one, and the numbers told the story. New York stumbled to a 3-14 finish, the quarterback situation never gave the team much to celebrate, and the defense somehow went the entire season without picking off a pass.
Now, heading into Year 2, there are signs Glenn is approaching things differently.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini, speaking with Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, said the Jets head coach has shown noticeable changes in how he handles camp and his day-to-day operation. Cimini pointed to a softer edge at the podium and a clearer grip on both the staff and the practices.
“As for Aaron Glenn, yes, he absolutely sounds a little bit different,” Cimini said. “He's not as combative at the press conferences as he usually is.
Last year, we had a couple of run-ins. He was prickly last year.
He came in with a chip on his shoulder… I think we see a more relaxed coach. A coach, like you said, acknowledged some shortcomings.
“His game management last year left a lot to be desired,” Cimini continued. “So, I think he's really tried to concentrate on that in the offseason… He's got a more experienced coaching staff this year. I think he added some more wise, experienced guys to the staff, and I think he recognizes some of those issues, and that needed to be corrected.”
#Jets HC Aaron Glenn is coming across as a different person this year, and it really seems like he challenged himself to figure out what went wrong in Year 1 and make the appropriate changes.@RichCimini breaks it down: https://t.co/7taYoizgQZ pic.twitter.com/dgB28EOvAF
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 12, 2026
Those adjustments won’t be fully judged until the 2026-27 season gets going, but the early read is that Glenn is trying to fix the problem areas that showed up in his first season.
The Jets will open the new campaign on the road in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. It will be an early measuring stick against a rebuilding team led by former Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
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