New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn publicly addressed swirling rumors about the team’s owner, Woody Johnson, being involved in hiring new coaches for the Jets’ staff. This comes in the heat of a staff shake-up that occurred last month. The Jets finished 3-14 in 2025, with an F grade on offense, per PFSN metrics.
Aaron Glenn Pushes Back on Speculation of Owner Woody Johnson Meddling in Hiring
January was a tough month for the Jets. Much of the coaching staff was cleaned out, and there were rumors about Glenn’s vision for the staff on a week-to-week basis. At one point, Wink Martindale was favored for the defensive coordinator position, and it was expected that Tanner Engstrand would remain with the Jets, but without playcalling duties.
However, things quickly changed. Glenn made the decision that he was going to call the plays. Engstrand and the Jets parted ways, and Frank Reich arrived to be the “head coach” of the offense.
Fans and analysts speculated that Johnson influenced the staff’s coaching decisions and pushed Glenn toward calling plays. However, Glenn refuted the rumors and said no one is forcing him to make decisions.
ESPN reporter Rich Cimini quoted Glenn as saying, “He is not pushing me to pick coaches.” When asked about Johnson’s influence in coaching changes, Glenn said, per Mike Garafolo, “I think there’s a narrative about this team, this GM and Woody that needs to change.”
Glenn also defended Johnson when speaking to reporters during a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine. Per The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt, Glenn said, “Here’s how he operates: I spoke to him about my vision about the coaching staff… his answer is always: what can I do to help you be successful? I’m fortunate to have an owner who operates that way.”
It will probably never be fully known what closed-door conversations Johnson and Glenn have had, but Jets fans can be assured that Johnson is at least committed to putting the Jets in a position to succeed and be serious contenders.
New York’s defense was nothing short of a disaster in 2025 under former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. They became the first team in NFL history to not record an interception in a 17-game season.
New York ranked near the bottom in PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric. The Jets suffered through another abysmal season with a 3-14 record in 2025. Plus, with Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams gone, New York has a significant talent deficiency on defense.
The Jets will have a lot to ponder this offseason, between revamping their coaching staff and finding the talent needed to win games in 2026. If the offense and defense undergo a major turnaround, fans will know for sure that the Jets can compete
