David Bailey is the next Bruce Smith, Aaron Glenn is Bill Parcells in waiting, and Cade Klubnik is the picture-perfect fourth-round quarterback whose aura cannot lead to anything but superstardom.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen of the New York Jets fan jury, we have officially reached the apex of the offseason.

Here we are, again

It’s unavoidable; it really is.

No matter the year, the number of humans involved, or the circumstances, the furious optimism behind the latest Jets offseason is a recognizable entity. Ask even the most novice of police sketch artists to map it out, and it’ll come back as one of the more accurate pieces of art that could possibly reflect reality.

For the great majority of the last 15 years, the cycle is as familiar as it is repeatable:

  • The Jets struggle through the NFL’s regular season.
  • Fans pine for the days of Joe Namath, the New York Sack Exchange, or even Rex Ryan proudly boasting, “Here come the Jets, babe.”
  • The organization and fans alike offer substantial reasons for why the Jets’ on-field struggles persist, with ownership and a lack of quality quarterback play usually leading the way.
  • The Jets’ regular season limps to its pathetic conclusion.
  • Jets fans are forced to suffer through another January-February of playoff football. If they’re lucky, the New England Patriots are also feeling down, and a former once-hopeful franchise quarterback like Sam Darnold isn’t winning a Super Bowl. (It’s nothing against Sam, as Jets fans still love the guy; it’s instead about the vicious reminder of past failures.)
  • Deep breath time: no more football. Yet this is when the genesis of the optimistic buildup lies.
  • Once the NFL calendar hits the official start of the new league year, in early March, free agency begins.
  • From burgeoning young prospects to always smart free-agent signings, those frowns are turned upside down. The NFL draft, the lifeblood of each franchise, represents the official apex. It’s at this point that Jets fans are feeling it, and many are appropriately juiced up for the coming season.

Optimism is never the problem

Truth be told, preaching the idea that fans are overly and unrealistically optimistic about the Jets is as horrid a business practice as could be. The moment Jets X-Factor was founded in 2020 was the moment we welcomed all fans and encouraged good vibes.

What’s the point of sports fandom if all is doom and gloom? Seriously.

There must be at least some level of unrealistic optimism, and the somewhat delusional fans are expected to show face. Without that and them, a particular team’s fanbase would cease to exist — resembling a horribly boring cookie-cutter, all-purpose 1970s stadium that forced football to be played on a diamond while offering no atmospheric charm in baseball.

Then again, perhaps Jets fandom has gone too far this time.

We have the famed WFAN radio host Joe Benigno expecting David Bailey to be Bruce Smith or Myles Garrett. We also have many losing their minds over the belief that Cade Klubnik is destined to become “the guy,” based solely on 10 minutes of media-attended team sessions during rookie minicamp.

We even have double-digit win predictions happening on a more-than-comfortable and/or sensible basis.

Remain grounded

Have hope, yet remain grounded while doing so.

After all, what was the main talking point early in 2025 as the Jets started the season terribly? Those who provide an answer that doesn’t also include coaching are either intentionally lying to themselves, deluding themselves, or are under some form of hypnosis.

Aaron Glenn’s rookie NFL coaching season was horrific. There’s no way to sugarcoat that reality.

At no point, before or shortly following the start of the season, were the Jets’ intentions to tank. Yet Darren Mougey’s trades of Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, coupled with the JV-esque stretch run as the weather turned cold, planted a warm-and-fuzzy idea that this was all part of a grandmaster plan looking toward the future.

Now that the 2026 NFL draft is in the rear-view mirror, and the summer is nearly here, that narrative rages forward, with NFL draft expert and media members continuously preaching about how these Jets look different — about how, this time, it feels different.

Ah yes, this particular Jets regime, unlike those of recent years, is doing things the right and patient way.

Are they right?

Maybe. Maybe not. And that’s the point.

What’s different?

Make no mistake about it: The more talented NFL teams increase their chance at winning football games. Courtesy of a plethora of weapons — including the likes of Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, AD Mitchell, Mason Taylor, Kenyon Sadiq, and Omar Cooper Jr. — the Jets are suddenly viewed as a franchise that’s on the right track.

Finally.

But ask yourself this: What’s genuinely different about this moment as compared to 2022 or even 2018?

Joe Douglas did nearly everything in an under-the-radar fashion. No matter Jamal Adams’s antics, neither he nor the organization fed into it. They acquired assets and built things through the draft.

In Zach Wilson, they missed on the quarterback. However, the 2018 regime didn’t.

Mike Maccagnan actually hit on the quarterback. Yet, Sam Darnold couldn’t quite materialize here, in New York. Why? How could the Jets still be stuck in the mud after actually hitting on a legitimate quarterback?

After all, far too many folks utter the phrase, “It’s all about the quarterback.”

Well, it really isn’t.

Talent is not the driver

While the quarterback is critically important, the modern National Football League is a coach’s place. “It’s all about the coach.”

Gone are the days of a Jimmy Johnson acquiring so much talent that only the San Francisco 49ers could compete. The salary cap simply does not allow such an abnormality to take shape.

Today’s parity has given the coaches most of the on-field power. With physicality as down as it’s ever been, speed has become the most predictable factor. Therefore, designing offensive concepts has never been more advantageous, due to that predictability.

The examples are many…

From Liam Coen and Ben Johnson immediately flipping the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears’ chances, to Mike Macdonald and Klint Kubiak performing magic acts in Seattle, the answers are just chilling out in plain sight.

Yes, the Jets’ newfound optimism about their offensive weaponry is something to celebrate, yet consider how the washed-up Aaron Rodgers led the Pittsburgh Steelers to 10 wins and a playoff appearance last season…

How did such a mediocre talent base win the AFC North? Other than DK Metcalf, which offensive weapon is worth mentioning? Jaylen Warren, perhaps? Calvin Austin? The rarely used Kaleb Johnson? Pat Freiermuth is a quality tight end, but come on, now.

Outsmarting the opponent

The pieces the Jets have acquired will only travel as far as the coaching staff’s brainpower.

As much as the NFL may not like it, coaching, particularly scheming, has far surpassed talent as the top needle-mover in on-field success. It’s pretty simple as to why few fans think of it that way, too: Coaches don’t put fannies in the seats; players do.

The Jets fans who are currently optimistic should remain that way, whether it’s described as “outrageous” or not. Just make sure we all understand the reality of this situation…

Talent or not, the New York Jets will sink or swim based on the coaching staff’s prowess. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich justifies a bit of added hope, as do some of the other new faces, such as Seth Ryan and Karl Dunbar.

If Aaron Glenn and company can figure it out, things will, indeed, trend up. If not, Woody Johnson and company will have to, yet again, face the single-most responsible idea that has them stuck for the last 15 years…

We placed the fortunes of our team in the hands of someone who either did not understand that outsmarting the opponent is today’s driving force of the game or is merely incapable of doing so.