How Can Aaron Glenn Keep His Job in 2026?

Jan 4, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn looks on during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

After posting a 3-14 record in his first season as the New York Jets’ head coach, Aaron Glenn may be sitting on the hottest seat in sports. It’s not only the record that has him under scrutiny, though, as the Jets were in the bottom third of the league in both offense and defense.

The poor performances on both sides of the ball and the lack of fight the Jets showed throughout 2025 have Glenn on very thin ice entering his second year. In fact, his pressure has been amplified by recent events in the AFC East. Just last year, the Patriots went from worst to first after firing Jerod Mayo and signing Mike Vrabel.

So, how can Glenn ensure that he is still employed by the end of the season? Simply put, he needs to win more. And to do so, the Jets must markedly improve on both sides of the ball.

Win or Go Home

The Jets are still stuck in a 16-year playoff drought. The last time the Jets were seriously in contention for the playoffs was in 2015. Jets fans and the front office have gotten impatient waiting for better football. Aaron Glenn has to string together some wins if he is to keep his job for another season.

There are no expectations for the Jets to be contenders this year. However, many expect them to at least improve. Only two coaches in NFL history reached 35 games with fewer than 10 wins. So, Glenn clearly has his needed win total. If he wants to continue to season three, the Jets must flirt with .500 football.

A 7-10 season would be one that many Jets fans would welcome. Any sense of competitiveness from a team that was -203 in point differential in 2025 would work wonders on the dejected fanbase. If Glenn can achieve that double-digit win total after this year, his job may well be safe for the time being.

Refuel the Jets’ Offense

If the Jets are to reach the seven wins that could likely save Glenn’s job, then the offense has to take a massive step. New York finished 29th in total offense and last in passing in 2025. While Justin Fields did have an atrocious year, new Jets QB Geno Smith did not play much better over in Las Vegas.

The Jets are hoping that Smith can provide some help with the passing game. If he can channel his first two starting years in Seattle, this Jets offense can improve substantially. Glenn has also publicly stated that Smith could “lead [the Jets] to the promised land.” While a Super Bowl is obviously quite a stretch, Glenn will be relying heavily on Smith to get him through the season.

If the Jets can field a competent pass offense, it should open up opportunities for Breece Hall. Hall was a lone bright spot on the 2025 team, and he would vastly benefit from a functional passing game. In doing so, Jets fans may finally get to see Glenn’s original plan for the offense.

Let’s now assume for a moment that Glenn manages to stick around one more year. He would likely get the chance to go after a quarterback in the 2027 draft, especially since the Jets have three 2027 first-rounders. If he can demonstrate an evident style and system within the offense this year, Glenn can probably hand-pick the next New York franchise QB next year.

Shut Down the Airspace

The Jets finished 25th in total defense, 31st in scoring defense, and dead last in takeaways last season. That is unacceptable for a team with a coach who was calling the defense in an NFC championship two years prior. Glenn must improve his defense significantly if he wants to keep his job.

In efforts to do so, he will be taking back play-calling duties going into 2026. Glenn’s defenses have only ranked in the top 10 once, however, giving him a mountain to climb in building up the defense this offseason.

Signings like Nahshon Wright, DeMario Davis, and Joseph Ossai, though, will help immensely. Many experts also expect the Jets to take a defensive player with the second pick in the draft this year. After this draft, Glenn will have no excuse, as he will have the opportunity to choose players to run his desired defense.

The defense must look more like the 2024 Lions if Glenn is to continue his tenure with the Jets. That was the expectation when Glenn was hired. That expectation was not even close to being met in 2025. As such, Glenn must make the most out of the investments that the Jets have made. If the defense does not take tremendous strides, Glenn will almost certainly be on his way out of Florham Park.

Glenn’s Goal

Glenn is facing an uphill battle going into this NFL season. After a season like last year, he put out a vastly different product on the field in 2026 on both sides of the field. If he cannot, his career in New York, and possibly his head coaching career entirely, could reach a disappointing end.

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