As a disciple of Bill Parcells, New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn walked into the team facility in Florham Park with a reputation.
As past Parcells’ mentees go, most end up being no-nonsense coaches who have a penchant for being too hard on players around the league. Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin are examples of that.
Yet as Glenn concludes his first rookie minicamp and continues his offseason program with his new roster, a different side of the coach has begun to take shape – one that highlights how adaptable and exceptional the former Pro Bowl cornerback-turned-coaching star has been over his career.
Glenn Addresses Jets Minicamp Changes
Glenn began his head coaching tenure with the Jets with the announcement that he would not be a coach focused just on one side of the ball. He would be a coach who has a certain request on how to do things on both offense and defense.
Yet, unlike past Parcells’ disciples, Glenn wasn’t seen throughout rookie minicamp as a drill sergeant barking orders to the team’s newcomers.
Instead, he took on a role that few coaches for the Jets have shown in recent years: The role of a teacher.
A key theme throughout the Jets’ 2025 rookie class has been Glenn’s desire to teach the newcomers not only how to succeed at their position, but also how to be a professional football player.
Seventh overall pick Armand Membou lauded Glenn’s ability to “never demean” players, but to expect the best out of them at the same time. That level of respect, trust, and discipline is something that Glenn wants to instill early in his career as head coach.
“When you get a new regime, that’s the one thing you want to make sure, to just get the trust of the players,” Glenn said. “I do believe with every part of me that these guys know exactly what we’re trying to do, and the thing is, my verbiage has been very simple from the beginning.
“As it goes to phase three, the verbiage is going to change because we’re doing things different because now we’re really on the field, there’s some competitive moments out there now and then, exactly how I see the identity of the team going forward because we’re on the grass at that point.”
Throughout rookie minicamp, Glenn was seen moving from position group to position group, offering instruction to players. He wasn’t hollering at players who made a mistake (he left that to his assistants). Instead, he seemed almost quiet in a way through his delegation.
It was a stark contrast from what the Jets and their fans have seen through previous regimes in years past.
It’s also worth mentioning that he seems to have earned the respect of the locker room – both rookies and veterans alike – very quickly. Glenn made it clear that the team had an attendance of around 94% during the second phase of offseason workouts.
“They’re buying in,” Glenn concluded. “They’re completely buying in. I give a lot of credit to those guys, and I’m happy [with] what they’re doing.”
Glenn is not some typical young coach with fresh offensive ideas that can turn a team around in a single year. At 52 years old, the former star corner isn’t going to draw comparisons to Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan anytime soon.
As a teacher, though, Glenn may stand alone. He has a plan on how to fix the Jets, and believes this plan can be what the organization has been missing for so long.
If rookie minicamp is any indication, though, that plan isn’t just a copy of what Parcells once did. Glenn’s plan is unique to him.
Perhaps that is what makes him perfect for the Jets.
