In his first season as the New York Jets’ head coach, Aaron Glenn leaned on former head coach and mentor Bill Parcells for advice when things got rough.
Now, as the Jets prepare for the 2026 season and Glenn’s second year as the football commander in chief, the former cornerback appears to have learned a lot from his hardships in his rookie coaching season.
In an exclusive conversation with Sal Licata, Parcells shared his thoughts on Glenn’s situation, particularly as he enters his second season as the Jets’ HC.
“I’m praying for him [Glenn],” said Parcells. “He’s one of my favorite players. I really have a high regard for him personally, so I am hoping for his success.”
Parcells, who spent three seasons as the Jets’ head coach (1997-99), delivered the kind of turnaround for the organization that Glenn hopes to bring decades later.
After inheriting a 1-15 Rich Kotite-led team, Parcells led the Jets to a 9-7 record in his first season as the squad’s head coach, barely falling short of the playoffs. Then, in 1998, after a year under his belt, the Jets reached the AFC championship game with a 12-4 regular-season record.
The team was quite close to punching their ticket to the Super Bowl, which they still haven’t done since 1969, as Gang Green had a 10-0 lead over the Denver Broncos in the AFC title game, before allowing 23 unanswered points.
While it would be an incredible story for Glenn, who was a first-round pick and a great player for the organization, to get the team back on track, the odds are significantly stacked against him.
As our own Michael Nania pointed out, just four of 17 coaches since 1980 who started 0-6 eventually led their teams to the playoffs: Dan Campbell, Zac Taylor, Kyle Shanahan, and Jimmy Johnson.
It’s also important to note that Campbell and Shanahan each capped off their first season with strong finishes, something Glenn struggled to do.
Regardless, New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has Bill Parcells, one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, on his side.
