From the moment Aaron Glenn stepped up to his first podium session with the media in his introductory press conference as head coach of the New York Jets, the comparisons to Hall-of-Famer Bill Parcells were easy to make.
Glenn was a cornerback under Parcells during the late 90s, and had used the all-time great coach as a mentor of sorts as he transitioned from player to scout to now coach.
Yet, there’s already one key clear difference between Parcells’ tenure as a head coach and the first couple of months under Glenn.
It’s one that became apparent following the team’s quarterback decision.
Jets Make QB Call
Speaking to reporters Sunday afternoon ahead of league meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, general manager Darren Mougey made the announcement that the Jets would be riding with Justin Fields as their starting quarterback for 2025.
“We believe Justin is the starter,” Mougey said. “We believe we can win with Justin. We’re excited about Justin’s potential.
“I just think he’s ready to break out as a top-notch quarterback. So, he’s going to do everything he can to be one of the better ones and we are going to coach our asses off to make sure he does a good job out there.”
Fields signed a two-year contract during the offseason worth close to $40 million, including $30 million guaranteed. While this contract was already seen as starter money, Mougey’s comments on Sunday were the first confirmation that no quarterback competition is coming.
Whether intentional or not, though, there is a semblance of surprise with New York’s announcement Sunday.
Why No Competition?
Glenn and Mougey spoke in their introductory press conference about the belief that there would be competition at every single position on the roster. It’s something Parcells always did when he first got started decades ago.
While Mougey confirmed much of that competition would fall from key defensive positions to even starting center Joe Tippmann, that wouldn’t be the case with Fields.
So why aren’t the Jets pitting Fields in a quarterback competition with Tyrod Taylor?
The reality is that this was the bed they made.
Previous reports stated that the Jets’ deal was equal to the one that the Pittsburgh Steelers made to the former first-round pick. Fields chose New York over the Black and Gold because he felt that he would have a better chance to be the starting quarterback with Gang Green compared to the team he was just with.
For the Jets to even sign a quarterback with guarantees of starting sends a different message than the one they are sending to the rest of the roster. And if they are willing to make Fields the direct face of the organization (as it always comes with being a starting quarterback in New York), they are banking on him producing at a top level right away.
It may work out. It may not.
But it’s clear the Jets have sent a different message to Fields than they have to the rest of the roster.
