Aaron Glenn watched the tape greater than as soon as. He needed to. A protection that performs a whole NFL season with out intercepting a single move, that’s not only a dangerous yr, that’s historical past, the unsuitable variety, the type no one within the constructing at 1 Jets Drive wished to be a part of. It had by no means occurred earlier than. Not as soon as, to not any workforce, in any season, ever. And it occurred to his.
The season began 0-7 and by no means actually recovered. Someplace in the midst of that collapse, Glenn fired his personal defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks, the man he’d employed, the man he trusted to run his protection, as a result of the choice was using it out and hoping issues would enhance. He didn’t hope. He acted. And when it was over, at 3-14, tied for the worst document within the league, Glenn stood in entrance of reporters and stated the quiet half out loud: his personal studying curve as a first-time head coach had been “a huge deal.” Everyone in that constructing heard it. Everyone across the league heard it too.
Jets Offseason Rebuild
Possession backed him anyway. However backing Glenn didn’t imply defending his employees; 12 of the unique 22 assistants are gone, worn out in an offseason purge that left Glenn calling his personal protection in yr two, no buffer, no delegation, simply him and the outcomes. Frank Reich is available in to run the offense. Brian Duker takes the defensive coordinator title underneath Glenn. And GM Darren Mougey went to work like a person constructing a life raft and a lifeboat concurrently, spending the No. 2 total choose on edge rusher David Bailey whereas additionally buying and selling for a $40 million security in Minkah Fitzpatrick and a confirmed veteran quarterback in Geno Smith, plus operating it again with linebacker Demario Davis.
Heading into 2026, nonetheless, on-line betting websites might hardly be much less optimistic concerning the Jets’ upcoming marketing campaign. The early 2026 NFL odds have priced up a win line of simply 5.5, with the underneath narrowly favored at -125 in comparison with the over at -105. Such a line and its pricing are a damning referendum on a franchise that hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in fifteen years, tied to a coach whose seat might rely on clearing a quantity no one outdoors the constructing expects him to clear.
And the trustworthy place to begin for getting there isn’t some counterintuitive highway upset, it’s Miami, twice, as a result of the Dolphins is perhaps even worse off than the Jets are.
Will Miami Yield Two Jets Victories?
The Dolphins began 1-6 final time period. Chris Grier, the GM, received fired in October, mid-season, no cushion, no grace interval. By Week 16, Miami benched Tua Tagovailoa, its franchise quarterback, for rookie Quinn Ewers, which is about as public an admission as a franchise could make that the season was already lifeless.
They completed 7-10. Mike McDaniel received fired too, closing out a 35-33 tenure that by no means discovered an identification value retaining. The brand new regime, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, didn’t tinker on the edges. They launched Tua. They launched Tyreek Hill. They launched Bradley Chubb. That cleared over $56 million in cap house, however it additionally meant absorbing a league-leading $179 million in lifeless cash, simply to get the books clear sufficient to start out over.
The Miami Dolphins have launched WR Tyreek Hill…
After struggling a devastating knee harm in September, his standing for 2026 is up within the air 🤕
The place ought to he signal as soon as he’s wholesome? ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/mvWfFYhFta
Miami used 13 draft picks this spring, a league excessive, as a result of that’s what it takes whenever you’re hitting reset that tough. Malik Willis is the presumptive starter now. Besides, two wins over that mess aren’t a assure. However it’s the basis. Listed below are 4 different video games the place the Jets will probably be sniffing an opportunity of victory.
Tennessee: Week 1
Robert Saleh is the coach the Jets fired 5 video games into 2024, and now he’s on the opposite sideline in Nashville, opening the season towards the franchise that allow him go. There’s a narrative in that alone. However the larger one is a Titans roster with zero live-game reps collectively, a defense-first program underneath a brand new employees, Cam Ward getting into yr two underneath a brand-new offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, a patchwork line, a receiver room that simply received its first actual weapon in Carnell Tate.
GM Mike Borgonzi spent large on move rusher John Franklin-Myers and added Jermaine Johnson II, Solomon Thomas, Alontae Taylor, and Cor’Dale Flott, expertise, certain, however expertise that’s by no means performed a snap collectively. A Week 1 highway recreation towards a workforce that’s unfamiliar with itself is strictly the sort of spot a rebuilding workforce ought to circle.
Cleveland: Week 5
The Browns simply traded away Myles Garrett, the NFL’s single-season sack document holder, to the Rams, they usually nonetheless don’t know who’s taking part in quarterback. Deshaun Watson is again from a second Achilles tear whereas Shedeur Sanders waits within the wings after some strong if unspectacular shows towards the again finish of final season, performances that in some way garnered him a Professional Bowl nod.
Kevin Stefanski is gone after six seasons, changed by Todd Monken, and no one in that quarterback room has secured the beginning job. 5 weeks in, is Cleveland even certain who it’s? A protection stripped of its identification and an offense nonetheless auditioning starters is a workforce the Jets, with precise continuity and three first-round draft picks, ought to be favored to beat at house.
Las Vegas: Week 8
Klint Kubiak inherits a rookie quarterback in Fernando Mendoza and a bridge starter in Kirk Cousins, retaining the seat heat. Pete Carroll lasted one season earlier than the league’s worst offense received him fired. GM John Spytek traded away his personal beginning quarterback, Geno Smith, to the Jets, no much less, and is betting the yr on endurance as an alternative of outcomes.
Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers give Vegas expertise, however a rookie quarterback and a brand new system not often click on by Week 8. Is Vegas nonetheless “patient” if Mendoza appears overwhelmed by October? That’s the window the Jets want open.
Arizona: Week 15
9 straight losses closed out 2025. Jonathan Gannon received fired regardless of a promising 2024. Mike LaFleur inherits a workforce that simply watched possession minimize ties with Kyler Murray completely, leaving Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and rookie Carson Beck to kind out a quarterback room from scratch. Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. give Arizona expertise to burn, however by Week 15, with the season determined and a training employees nonetheless discovering its footing, does this roster even present up?
