The New York Jets' 2025 season was, by all accounts, a train off the tracks. What began with cautious optimism under new head coach Aaron Glenn quickly unraveled into one of the more frustrating campaigns in recent memory. But amid the wreckage, one veteran voice stood out-not just for his play on the field, but for his candid perspective off it.
Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, acquired in a late-summer trade, became a rare bright spot on a defense that struggled to find its footing. An eight-year veteran with playoff experience from his time in Buffalo and Minnesota, Phillips brought more than just production-he brought leadership. And as the Jets’ season spiraled, his voice in the locker room grew louder.
When asked recently why fans should still believe in Glenn despite a 1-7 start and a turbulent first year, Phillips didn’t sugarcoat his response.
“I think AG inherited a very cancerous, truculent group, top to bottom,” Phillips said. “It’s not individual people’s fault.
I was there for one season-it was a very difficult season-and I almost wanted to waver on some of my optimism. I think AG’s mindset, to deal with what we had to deal with this season, was super cool to see.”
That’s a raw, unfiltered take from a player who’s seen both the highs and lows of NFL culture. And it speaks volumes.
Phillips isn’t known for throwing words around lightly. When he calls a roster “cancerous” and “truculent,” that’s not a throwaway line-it’s a diagnosis.
And it helps explain why the Jets made the moves they did at the trade deadline.
Sitting at 1-7 in early November, Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey made the bold call to hit reset. That meant parting ways with two of the franchise’s top talents-cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.
The trades were shocking on the surface, but they signaled something deeper: the team wasn’t just trying to patch holes. They were tearing down a flawed foundation.
Now, to be clear, no one’s pinning the Jets’ failures on Gardner or Williams. Both are elite players in their own right.
But the message was clear-this version of the Jets had grown stale. The culture, the chemistry, the accountability-it all needed a reboot.
That’s a hangover from the Robert Saleh era, where blame often landed on a single scapegoat. Whether it was Zach Wilson or another underperforming piece, the narrative rarely shifted to the system as a whole.
Glenn, to his credit, didn’t fall into that trap. He recognized the deeper issues and made the tough calls.
And here’s the thing-the team responded. After the deadline shakeup, the Jets didn’t fold.
They won three of their final five games, showing a level of fight and cohesion that had been missing earlier in the year. It wasn’t enough to salvage the season, but it was enough to suggest that the locker room had started to buy in.
That’s where Phillips’ comments carry real weight. He’s not just defending his coach-he’s validating a vision.
Glenn walked into a fractured situation and tried to instill accountability, toughness, and a new standard. It didn’t translate into wins right away, but it laid a foundation that players like Phillips clearly respect.
There’s still a long road ahead for Glenn and the Jets. One strong month doesn’t erase a brutal year. But if the culture shift is real-and if veterans like Phillips continue to lead the charge-2026 could mark the start of something different in New York.
The Jets have tried quick fixes before. This time, they’re trying something harder: a full reset. And if they stick with it, the payoff might finally be worth the pain.