The New York Jets’ 2025 season has gone from hopeful to historically frustrating - and now, head coach Aaron Glenn may be facing a one-and-done exit after a nightmare debut campaign.
Coming into the year, the Jets were banking on a fresh start. They moved on from 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers and handed the reins to 26-year-old Justin Fields, hoping his athleticism and upside could finally jumpstart a franchise that hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in 15 seasons. Pair that quarterback change with Glenn’s arrival as head coach, and there was a sense - however cautious - that this could be the beginning of something new in New York.
Instead, it’s been more of the same - and then some.
Glenn’s tenure began with seven straight losses before the Jets finally got in the win column in Week 8. Fields, expected to be the centerpiece of the offense, was benched last month after a string of poor performances that never allowed the offense to find its rhythm. The low point came Sunday, when the Jets were blown out 48-20 by the Jaguars - a loss that officially knocked them out of playoff contention yet again.
The fallout was swift. Within 24 hours, Glenn fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, a move that raised eyebrows around the league and sparked questions about Glenn’s own job security. NFL insider Mike Florio suggested the decision to part ways with Wilks may be a sign that Glenn sees the writing on the wall.
“I still think there’s a chance it’s going to be one-and-done for Aaron Glenn in New York,” Florio said during an appearance on the Pro Football Talk Live podcast. “And I think this move that he made is a manifestation of what he's feeling right now.”
It’s not hard to see why the pressure is mounting.
Despite some talent on that side of the ball, the Jets defense has been giving up 337.4 yards per game - a middle-of-the-pack number - but the real issue is points allowed. New York ranks 30th in the league in scoring defense, giving up 28.4 points per game.
And since trading away two of their top defenders - cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams - things have only gotten worse. The defense has surrendered an average of 29.3 points per game since those trades, including a staggering 82 points over the last two weeks.
With Wilks out, secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator Chris Harris will take over as interim defensive coordinator. Harris, a former NFL safety with eight seasons under his belt, has built a solid resume as an assistant with stops in Chicago, San Diego, Washington, and Tennessee. He’ll be tasked with steadying a defense that’s been leaking points and confidence.
But the bigger question is what this all means for Glenn. He came into this job with a strong reputation as a defensive mind, having helped build Detroit’s defense into a physical, aggressive unit.
But in New York, the results just haven’t materialized. Florio pointed out that Glenn’s decision to fire Wilks could be interpreted as an admission that his initial hire was a misstep - and that kind of public course correction doesn’t always sit well with front offices.
“I’m a big believer in admitting mistakes and not doubling down,” Florio said. “But you still are admitting the mistake. And he’s admitting by firing Wilks that what he did is what he shouldn’t have done.”
Glenn, for his part, defended Wilks in his postgame comments, emphasizing that the decision wasn’t just about scheme or play-calling. Instead, he framed it as a broader evaluation of the team’s character over the final three games.
“I brought Steve Wilks in for a reason, and I want him to run his system,” Glenn said. “We have three games left, three games left for our guys to go out there and play.
Right now, it’s not about the Xs and Os. Across the board, it’s about the character of the men on this team.
And that’s what I’m evaluating.”
Wilks, a coaching veteran with three decades of experience, has been around the league since 1995 and even served as interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2022. His firing adds another layer of instability to a team that’s already trying to rebuild from the ground up.
Now, with three games left in the season, the Jets are playing for pride - and perhaps for jobs. For Glenn, these final weeks may be his last chance to prove he deserves a second year in charge.
The Jets have cycled through coaches and quarterbacks at a dizzying pace over the last decade and a half. If Glenn can’t show tangible progress soon, he may become the latest name added to that list.
The clock is ticking in New York.