Aaron Glenn’s leadership approach sets Jets apart in tough season

Aaron Glenn is off to a rough start as head coach of the New York Jets. The 53-year-old former Pro Bowler is the first coach in team history to lose each of his first five games.

Along the way, Glenn has shown an inability to prepare his team on a weekly basis and put players in the right position to succeed.

Glenn’s record is what it is. New York has been outplayed and outmatched for most of the 2025 campaign, leaving them in a dubious spot.

But as bad as the on-field product has been, there’s one silver lining for Glenn and his staff: He hasn’t been on an embarrassing streak like some other head coaches around the league.

Grass is greener with Glenn

For most of the 2025 season, Glenn has been a coach who defends his players and coaches when they are questioned by fans or the media.

That is a stark difference from another head coach in the division.

After the Miami Dolphins blew a 17-0 lead to lose to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, head coach Mike McDaniel threw his defensive coordinator, Anthony Weaver, under the bus—in the most unprofessional way possible.

“There’s no if, ands, or buts about it. You don’t give up that many line-of-scrimmage yards, unless you’re uncoordinated in certain ways. I need to make sure that guys don’t fray or try to handle it themselves,” said McDaniel. “We collectively need to build a wall, and if that means play calls need to change for that to occur, then play calls need to change.

“This can’t continue to go on like this, and it has already gone on too long.”

The Dolphins are 1-4. Their one win was against Glenn’s Jets two weeks ago. That could be seen as a further slight to New York, but at least the Jets’ coaching staff isn’t at each other’s throats.

Culture is built from wins, but being a respectable organization is one of the first steps in that process. Glenn not pointing blame at anyone while the Jets struggle is a good start to that journey.

McDaniel’s behavior wasn’t even the worst of Week 5.

Jonathan Gannon’s tirade

It doesn’t get any uglier than what happened to the Arizona Cardinals and head coach Jonathan Gannon on Sunday. The Cards blew a 21-3 lead to the previously winless Tennessee Titans and lost 22-21.

During the game, running back Emari Demercado seemed to break away for the 72-yard game-sealing touchdown, but he celebrated prematurely and dropped the ball before crossing the goal line.

On the sideline, Gannon was seen screaming at a clearly upset Demercado, even using physical contact during his outburst. Gannon’s actions were viewed as so excessive that several former players agreed the head coach went overboard on a player who clearly understood what he did wrong.

The Cardinals organization agreed with those concerns.

The team fined Gannon $100,000 for his sideline outburst. The third-year coach also announced that he apologized to the runner and the team.

“I just told them, I kind of let the moment of what happened get the better of me there,” Gannon said.

Glenn has already had a situation where he let loose on his players. Following the team’s loss to Miami, the Jets’ head coach could be heard yelling at the team through the stadium walls.

But that was between the coach and his roster. The outburst wasn’t for everyone to see. Glenn’s emotional maturity, at the very least, is a silver lining for the Jets. He understands the importance of building strong and nurturing relationships with his team.

Glenn’s tenure hasn’t been what many Jets fans would have hoped to see thus far. But it could be a lot uglier at this point.

Just ask the Dolphins and Cardinals.