Make no mistake about it: A great football head coach must possess confidence and instill it in others. Exuding confidence—presenting it in a manufactured way that Jack Nicholson would tip his cap—is only optional.
For some, presenting it in a specific way is a conscious strategy. For others, the Broadway show is just that … a performance that goes down in history as utterly meaningless.
The way in which the football world and New York Jets fans view their rookie head coach, Aaron Glenn, is still very much up for debate. Yet, a recent Glenn quote inspires hope, regardless of how Glenn’s overall public persona is currently perceived.
Although the head coach made the quote towards the end of his postgame press conference in Week 10—after the Jets’ encouraging 27-20 win over the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium—it remains important nonetheless.
“Guys, that’s what we’re all about; that’s what we’ve been teaching, and that’s what we’ve been practicing for a while,” is how Glenn responded when asked how important it is for his young Jets to win close games. “Listen, sometimes it takes time, and I understand guys don’t understand that. It takes time [for] guys to understand and execute in situations.”
The Jets’ one-possession win over Cleveland qualifies as a tight victory. Of course, this hasn’t been the 2025 standard.
Week 1’s loss to Aaron Rodgers’s Pittsburgh Steelers, the painful defeat in Tampa Bay a couple of weeks later, and the brutal watch that was the 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos in London all qualify as failing in the big moment.
Hey, it’s nothing Jets fans don’t already know. Referencing these recent moments only further the agita and football-specific acid flashbacks this fanbase cannot leave behind.
I promise, however, that this exercise isn’t about torture—at least not in isolation.
Essential to spot and consume are Glenn’s immediate thoughts after referencing the team’s progress in handling nut-crunching scenarios.
“Even for me, sometimes it takes time for me to get myself in the flow and be able to make the right calls in (late-game) situations,” Glenn added.
Now that is something to take serious note of, my good people. It’s tough to claim such a stubborn blowhard could ever utter this idea—even silently in one’s own mind.
While it’s absolutely true that great head coaches come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments—such as the aforementioned confidence front that’s presented to the public—a few universal traits must come with the package. Despite any legitimate diversity, specific characteristics are essential for achieving head-coaching success.
One of these traits is coachability. Yes, that’s right: The head coach must also be coachable, himself.
Remember, Aaron Glenn is a man who hit rock bottom upon his first taste of NFL action.
Drafted by Pete Carroll’s regime in 1994, he experienced an epic preseason blunder by muffing three punts. The Texas A&M product entered the league not only as a hyped-up cover corner, but he also complemented his defensive potential with exciting return abilities.
Muffing those punts in preseason action set him back a bit in the special teams regard. Although he ultimately recovered to some degree on special teams—ultimately manning kick return duties in the future—he never allowed the negative shock to influence his career on the wrong side of history.
Aaron Glenn, the player, featured coachability.
Jets fans can only hope that Aaron Glenn, the head coach, is doing the same thing. This quote, which equates to an admission of sorts, places the Jets’ sideline boss on the right track.
The idea that this man, who has often displayed an agitated demeanor at the podium while sternly engaging with the media and providing befuddling answers at times, can also genuinely feature openness and admit to actively learning on the job, is as positive an occurrence as could happen.
“I always talk about the last four minutes of either half belong to the head coach, and sometimes, it takes time to get those things down,” Glenn added. “I think right now, I’m understanding it, our coaching staff is understanding it, (and) our players understand it. Listen, we’re still a long way from where we need to be, but we’re trending in the right direction.”
How Aaron Glenn made an in-game mistake deeply disturbingWhile it’s impossible to wash away the mortal sin that was a head coach not knowing exactly how long a game-winning field goal would be (i.e., bypassing a 62-yard game-winning field goal attempt by Nick Folk in London), these recent words are encouraging.
Although it’s impossible to pretend that the defensive-minded head coach’s program may not jibe with today’s offensive and short-passing-first mandate, the idea that coachability is valued is something to celebrate.
Hey, Aaron Glenn can be as confident (and even as stubborn) as he wants, especially as it relates to his public front. It’s irrelevant if he earnestly welcomes the struggle in a way that allows those around him to offer personal challenges, and in the form of inward challenges—without fooling himself.
If Aaron Glenn, the man himself, is authentically coachable, it’s tremendous news for New York Jets fans.
