PHOENIX \u2014 Aaron Glenn found the last open seat at the circular table and sat down with smile on his face and a chuckle.<\/p>\n
How are you, AG?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m outstanding,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
About 35 minutes later, Glenn, in a moment of passion, paused mid-sentence to keep himself from choking up.<\/p>\n
Those two emotional bookends do well to explain Glenn\u2019s state of mind heading into his second season, fresh off his second run through free agency, and following a tumultuous first year.<\/p>\n
This already feels like a different Glenn, a coach that \u2014 at least on the surface \u2014 has learned from his rookie mistakes. His demeanor is different. The way he talks to the media is different.<\/p>\n
A year ago, when Glenn sat at a similar table in Palm Beach, Fla., he wasn\u2019t smiling much. His quarter-zip was zipped up all the way to the top and that reflected his energy too \u2014 zipped up and unwilling to engage in anything he viewed as tomfoolery.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, he left a few buttons undone at the top of his shirt. He answered every question, even ones that were repeated, even ones that questioned his decision-making from a year ago \u2014 and the ones about the perception of the pressure on him to win more games in 2026. He handled it, all of it, with a lightness and understanding that was mostly missing last year, even before the losing started.<\/p>\n
The heat is on, but Glenn is acting cool.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still a long ways away,\u201d Glenn said. \u201cBut I know this: Everything that we want to do as an organization, we\u2019re starting to see come together. We still have a long ways to go, but I like the direction we\u2019re going right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the end of a long session that covered a wide range of topics \u2014 roster, NFL Draft and scheme among them \u2014 that pesky playoff-less streak (15 years, the longest in the NFL) was raised. That\u2019s when the emotion bubbled back up.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day. Every day,\u201d Glenn said. \u201cThere\u2019s a couple things I think about on a daily basis. I think about the players every day. I think about \u2014 I really, really think about this, this is not just coach speak \u2014 how do I utilize every player we have on this roster to help us be successful? What are the things I have to make sure (of to) get over that hump? Because I\u2019ve been a part of it, and there\u2019s no better feeling in the world than, we\u2019re downtrodden for a number of years, and then we finally get over that hump and we\u2019re moving. Then it\u2019s: How do we keep that sustainable for years to come? I want to leave a legacy, I do. When I\u2019m gone, I\u2019m looking at this team being a team that consistently puts itself in a place to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day,\u201d Glenn said, then paused for a moment. \u201cIt\u2019s not a day, it\u2019s not an hour, it\u2019s not a minute that I don\u2019t think about that. And I look forward to making that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Monday and Tuesday marked the first time Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey spoke since free agency. Here are six things I took away from what they said:<\/p>\n
1. Geno Smith is the right quarterback for this moment.<\/p>\n
It would be difficult to ignore the criticism and mockery inflicted on the Jets for going back to Smith \u2014 and the Jets weighed all of that when they dug into their quarterback options.<\/p>\n
Things did not end well for Smith with the Jets. Not with the organization, not with the fans. He left a decade ago for a reason \u2014 and now he\u2019s back for a reason too. That reason is obvious: He was the best of the available options, and would come at minimal cost. But it goes beyond that, too.<\/p>\n
More than anything, the Jets believe in Smith\u2019s ability to not only shepherd in a new offensive scheme with Frank Reich calling plays, but to deliver passes on a consistent and accurate basis to Jets receivers. Glenn and Mougey understand how and why things went wrong in Las Vegas last year. All the interceptions he\u2019s thrown don\u2019t scare them. Glenn sees a quarterback who was in the MVP hunt with the Seahawks in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just feel like he\u2019s the guy that\u2019s going to lead us to the promised land,\u201d Glenn said. \u201cHe\u2019s the guy that\u2019s going to touch the ball more than anybody else on offense. I know he had his struggles. I think a lot of quarterbacks have their struggles. If you look at over the last five years (at) the guys that have thrown the most interceptions, the top guys are up there.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for the history: \u201cThose things you always weigh. To me, I didn\u2019t think they\u2019d be a detriment to us as an organization or to the fans. Obviously, there are some fans that probably didn\u2019t like it, and I understand. But I think there were some fans that did like it. He has a fresh start, and I look forward to how he\u2019s going to operate because he really, really wants this. Just going through the process of getting the quarterback, that\u2019s something that stood out about him. He wants to be here. When you have guys that want to be here, want to be Jets, that makes it better.\u201d<\/p>\n
It would not be controversial to suggest that Smith was signed as a stopgap for whatever rookie quarterback the Jets add, but the Jets are open to the possibility that Smith can be their quarterback beyond 2026, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s a question for me to answer because he can go out there and throw for 4,000 yards and have 30 touchdowns and no interceptions, and you think, we\u2019re just going to let him go?\u201d Glenn said. \u201cThat just goes by year. I do know this: He\u2019s excited about being here. He\u2019s going to be our quarterback, and I look forward to that.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. The Jets are exploring the quarterback options in the NFL Draft \u2014 but that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019ll be drafting one early.<\/p>\n
The Jets have sent a contingent out on the Pro Day circuit that included Glenn, Mougey, offensive coordinator Frank Reich, quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and others. A big part of that tour has been about evaluating quarterbacks in this year\u2019s draft class. They\u2019ve conducted private workouts and\/or had dinner with Ty Simpson (Alabama), Carson Beck (Miami), Drew Allar (Penn State) and Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), among others.<\/p>\n