Aaron Glenn’s Quarterback Reality Check: What the Jets’ 2025 Season Taught Their Head Coach
When Aaron Glenn took over as head coach of the New York Jets, his mindset was clear: build the whole team, not just one piece. It was a noble, big-picture approach from a former Pro Bowl cornerback who knows how important every position is. But the NFL has a way of teaching hard truths fast - and in 2025, Glenn got his crash course in the one lesson every coach eventually learns: if you don’t get the quarterback right, nothing else matters.
The Jets went all-in on Justin Fields this season, hoping a change of scenery could unlock the potential that made him a first-round pick. Instead, what they got was more of the same - flashes of talent, but not enough consistency to build around.
And the result? A season defined by offensive frustration and a head coach forced to confront the harsh reality of the NFL’s most important position.
The Quarterback Conundrum
Heading into Week 17, Glenn reflected on what he’s learned in his first season leading an NFL team. And while the lesson wasn’t new to him, living it firsthand was a different story.
“Being able to adapt and be able to understand each player that you have,” Glenn told reporters. “Between me, Tanner [Engstrand], and the whole offense, we’ve got to figure out what’s the best thing this player can do, and how do we make sure we surround him with the right player to make sure he can do the things that he can do. I already knew it, but to actually be a part of and have to deal with it, that was another thing.”
That’s the kind of insight that only comes from experience. Glenn and his staff didn’t just throw Fields into a generic system and hope for the best.
They tried to tailor the offense to his strengths. They brought in Garrett Wilson, his top target from Ohio State.
They put together a capable offensive line. They leaned on a solid group of running backs.
And the scheme itself? It was a simplified version of the Detroit Lions’ offense from earlier in the decade - a system built to make things easier for the quarterback.
But easier didn’t mean effective. Fields struggled mightily, to the point where the Jets failed to crack 60 passing yards in four separate games.
That kind of offensive output is hard to watch, let alone win with. Eventually, the team had no choice but to bench him.
Lessons Learned, and What Comes Next
This season didn’t just test Glenn’s coaching chops - it tested his adaptability, his leadership, and his ability to learn on the fly. And while some fans may be ready to move on, the reality is that Glenn now understands something critical: the quarterback isn’t just a piece of the puzzle - he is the puzzle.
The Jets tried to make it work with Fields. They gave him weapons, protection, and a system designed to help him succeed.
But when the quarterback can’t deliver, everything else crumbles. And for Glenn, that’s a lesson that could shape how he approaches the most important offseason of his coaching career.
At 53 years old, Glenn is still early in his head coaching journey. But he knows now that if he wants to stick around in this league - especially in a market as demanding as New York - he has to get the quarterback situation right.
There’s no workaround. No shortcut.
No scheme clever enough to mask instability under center.
The Jets' 2025 season may not have delivered wins, but it did deliver clarity. And for a head coach trying to build something lasting, that’s not nothing. Now, the question is simple: what does Aaron Glenn do with that knowledge in 2026?