Not all NFL turnarounds are the same. Some, like what has transpired for the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots, take just a single offseason to achieve.

Others, like what is currently underway with the New York Jets, take longer.

For Gang Green’s passionate fanbase, the years of waiting for progress—while other franchises swing from contenders to rebuilding and back again—have been difficult to endure.

In the case of their AFC East rival, the Patriots, or the NFC North-leading Bears, Jets fans are taking the wrong lessons from their rapid rises.

NFL turnarounds

Among the first things noted about the turnarounds in Chicago and Foxborough is that both teams hired new head coaches during the 2025 offseason—just like the Jets.

Aaron Glenn’s team, however, has just two wins. Mike Vrabel’s Patriots and Ben Johnson’s Bears are contending for top seeds in their respective conferences.

Yet, the critical point of this story is that neither team’s resurgence is due solely to its head coach. That’s what many Jets fans are missing.

A key reason New York has struggled is its lack of stability at quarterback—the same advantage Chicago and New England enjoy. While Justin Fields has been benched twice this season, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are playing at a high level for their new coaches.

It’s tempting to credit coaching stability, but that misses the core issue the Jets continue to face. They don’t have a quarterback.

Would Johnson or Vrabel be as successful if Justin Fields were their quarterback? Probably not.

Take Washington as another example. In Jayden Daniels’ first season with the Commanders, he led the long-struggling franchise to within one win of the Super Bowl. Head coach Dan Quinn was widely praised.

This year, with Daniels injured and the team sitting at three wins, they’re closer to the No. 1 pick than a playoff spot. Has Quinn forgotten how to coach?

Of course not.

He doesn’t have his quarterback.

That’s the reality for the Jets. Until they find their franchise signal-caller, they’ll have to rebuild the hard way under Glenn.

Jets offseason plans

New York’s answer at quarterback isn’t on the roster. Whether they find it in free agency or the 2026 NFL draft remains to be seen.

Until then, the Jets must endure the painful path: losing games, accumulating draft picks, and trusting their development staff.

They’ll have the resources. With over $99 million in cap space and four picks in the first two rounds of the 2026 draft, the Jets are well-positioned to turn the corner.

It may not happen in the first year, and that’s OK. There is no perfect formula.

The Lions took three seasons to reach the playoffs under Dan Campbell. The Colts, with Peyton Manning, didn’t win a playoff game until his sixth season.

The Bears and Patriots rebuilt quickly—because they found their quarterbacks.

Until the New York Jets do the same, it doesn’t make sense to compare what Aaron Glenn is currently doing to what Vrabel or Johnson has at the most crucial position in sports.