The head coaching tenure of Aaron Glenn with the New York Jets could be shockingly brief, with a prominent NFL analyst predicting a 'one-and-done' scenario after a nightmare debut season.
A Season of Struggle and Playoff Elimination
According to veteran NFL reporter Mike Florio, Glenn's position is now in serious jeopardy. The Jets have been officially eliminated from playoff contention for a 15th consecutive season, rooted to the bottom of the AFC East with a dismal 3-11 record. The final nail was a crushing 48-20 defeat by the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15.
Hopes were initially high when Glenn took over, coinciding with the high-profile switch at quarterback from Aaron Rodgers to the younger Justin Fields. However, the optimism quickly faded. The team started the season 0-7, not securing a first win until Week 8. Fields' form deteriorated, leading to him being dropped as the starter last month.
Defensive Coordinator Firing Sparks Speculation
In a dramatic move just 24 hours after the season-ending loss to Jacksonville, Glenn fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Florio, who has covered the league for over two decades, sees this as a clear sign of Glenn's own precarious standing.
'I still think there’s a chance it’s going to be one-and-done for Aaron Glenn in New York,' Florio stated on his 'Pro Football Talk Live' podcast with ex-safety Devin McCourty. 'And I think this move that he made is a manifestation of what he's feeling right now. [He is] rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic as he's three weeks away from possibly being one-and-done.'
Florio suggested that by dismissing Wilks, Glenn is effectively admitting he made a hiring mistake. 'I'm a big believer in admitting mistakes and not doubling down... And he's admitting by firing Wilks that what he did is what he shouldn't have done,' Florio added.
A Defence in Freefall
The Jets' defensive performance has been a major concern. While they rank in the top half of the league for yards allowed (337.4 per game), they are a dismal 30th in scoring defence, surrendering 28.4 points per game on average. The situation worsened after two key starters, cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, were traded mid-season to Indianapolis and Dallas respectively.
Since those departures, the defence has collapsed, allowing an average of 29.3 points per game, including a staggering 82 points in the last two weeks alone. Secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator Chris Harris will now serve as interim defensive coordinator for the final three games.
When questioned about relieving Wilks of play-calling duties, Glenn appeared to defend his now-former assistant. 'I brought Steve Wilks in for a reason, and I want him to run his system,' Glenn said. He shifted focus to evaluating character for the remaining games.
With the regular season concluding in three weeks, the future looks bleak for Aaron Glenn in New York. As Florio concluded, 'So I think there's a chance that Aaron Glenn's gonna be one-and-done, we'll see what the Jets do.'
