For much of the 2026 offseason, Aaron Glenn has seemingly done everything he could to prove he has learned from some of the mistakes that doomed the New York Jets in his debut season.

Then, he went and spoiled it all with his latest declaration.

Last season, the Jets named Justin Fields their starting quarterback well before training camp, showing full trust despite his previous struggles in Pittsburgh and Chicago.

Fields was handed the job outright.

Twelve months later, the Jets are back at it again. This time, they have named Geno Smith their starter without any competition or debate.

It’s Smith or bust for 2026.

Glenn defends QB1 decision

Speaking on the NFL Network Sunday, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn made it quite clear why the team was turning to Smith as their starter without a competition.

“No doubt about it, he’s our guy,” Glenn said. “Man, he was up for MVP early in the [2022] season. There’s no doubt in my mind that we brought a competent starter here on this team. I look forward to him getting in the building.”

Smith enjoyed a career resurgence in Seattle, where he finished with a 28-24 record as a starter. He threw for 76 touchdowns and 36 interceptions in the Pacific Northwest before being shipped to Las Vegas for a year with the Raiders.

It was his time in Sin City that dropped Smith’s stock back to the cellar. The 35-year-old starter threw a league-high 17 interceptions en route to Las Vegas recording the worst record in football.

But Smith’s struggles in Vegas can be explained. Former NFL veteran Brian Baldinger spoke on the Official Jets Podcast this week to defend the quarterback’s performance.

“I was out there a couple of times, he was the leader,” Baldinger said. “You know, he played really well last year. I don’t know if any quarterback could have been successful. The offensive line fell apart. [They lost] their left tackle, lost their left guard. They were a disaster.”

Glenn is thinking along the same lines. The second-year coach believes the talent on New York’s roster will get Smith back to where he was in Seattle—no competition necessary.

“[Having Geno back in New York] means to have a bona fide starter come in and lead this offense to where it needs to go,” Glenn said. “Listen, he’s done it, you know, a couple of years. I mean, those years in Seattle, when he was Comeback Player of the Year.”

Right or wrong call?

There is an obvious reason why the Jets are willing to repeat their decision from last season. While Smith’s struggles last year are well documented, his ability as a passer far exceeds anything Fields has shown throughout his career.

New York isn’t handing the job to another project like Fields. They’re committing to a more proven option.

This is Smith’s team.

But is that the right move for New York to make?

In 2026, the goals for Gang Green differ from last season. New York needs to show improvement in both the wins column and its quality of play. They cannot be out of a playoff race in October, or get blown out by halftime in over half their games.

That’s where Smith comes in. The West Virginia product doesn’t magically turn the Jets into a playoff team, but he does raise the floor of the roster. Smith’s strong arm and quick release can allow him to deliver the ball to New York’s receivers consistently, giving the team a fighting chance in most games.

That could be what keeps Glenn and his staff employed.

And that’s really what it comes down to. Glenn isn’t necessarily wrong to deny a quarterback competition this season, but it does highlight that he’s looking for any avenue to keep himself employed in Florham Park.

Time will tell if Smith can do that. For now, it is clear that his potential to lift New York to the bare minimum required to keep Glenn employed is the only reason the second-year coach seems unwilling to learn from last year’s mistake.