Rex Ryan didn’t hold back when he took aim at the New York Jets’ current state, and Aaron Glenn ended up taking the hit.
Speaking on ESPN’s DiPietro & Rothenberg, the former Jets head coach blasted the team’s coaching operation after the club stumbled to a 2-5 start. Ryan made it clear he thinks the problem goes beyond results and gets into the basic details that keep slipping away at the worst possible times.
"Like I say, just hammer the damn details right now, hammer the details, and get this team ready to go... It starts with your leadership as a head coach...
Look, there's so many prideful kids on that team. When I watch them, I can see it.
And that's a great thing. That's what gives me optimism."
Ryan also pointed out that he’s not exactly an outside observer. He still has ties to the organization, and his son, Seth Ryan, is on the coaching staff as the current passing game coordinator. Even so, the former coach offered a revealing remark about work habits inside the building, saying Seth is usually the last coach there.
That comment landed as a pretty direct swipe at the people running the show, including Glenn and offensive coordinator Frank Reich. For a Jets team already sitting at 5-19 over Glenn’s first season and a half, it was another public reminder of how far things have gone off track.
And with fans already bracing for a playoff drought that’s now set to stretch to 17 years, Ryan’s critique only sharpened the spotlight on a team that is still searching for stability.
In Other News...
Jets Face A Real Deadline Decision With Nahshon Wright
Nahshon Wrights first season with the Jets has gone far differently than he likely envisioned when he signed his one-year deal. The cornerback has yet to take a defensive snap in 2026, a reality shaped in part by the strong play the Jets have gotten from Azareyeh Thomas and Brandon Stephens at the top of the depth chart.
Wrights lack of opportunity has now turned this into more than just a roster footnote, because the deadline is close and his situation sounds increasingly unsettled. In an interview with ESPNs Rich Cimini, Wright made clear he is frustrated and open to a change of scenery, and with the Jets not finding room for him on defense, a move before the deadline has started to look like a real possibility. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Keep Rolling With Kirk Cousins As Pressure Builds
The Raiders are sticking with the veteran at quarterback for now, and that decision has a ripple effect far beyond Las Vegas. Klint Kubiak is still planning to keep Kirk Cousins in the starting role over rookie Fernando Mendoza, with the organization taking the longer view on the transition and preferring to let the young passer keep developing rather than forcing the issue early.
There also does not appear to be any real urgency inside the building to make a change before the bye, which gives the Raiders more time to sort out the rest of their operation. The focus remains on getting cleaner play elsewhere first, even as the quarterback conversation is sure to linger every week until the team finally decides the timing is right. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Wilson Just Sent The Jets A Clear Warning
Garrett Wilson has made it clear he wants to stay in New York, but the larger message coming out of him is even harder for the Jets to ignore. The wide receivers loyalty is there, yet so is the reality that his patience is tied to something more important than location, and his comments land at a time when the team is still trying to steady itself after another uneven stretch.
Nahshon Wrights situation only adds to the sense that frustration is beginning to seep through the roster in different ways. He has not formally asked out, but he has let the team know he is unhappy with his defensive role, and that kind of sentiment can turn into a bigger issue quickly. With several players also dealing with uncertain or limited availability heading into the next game, the Jets are carrying plenty of moving parts before they even get to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]