Al Iannazzone: The Jets still believe. Does anyone else?
Head coach Aaron Glenn of the New York Jets looks on during the fourth quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Demario Davis didn’t take any questions. He just wanted to get something off his chest and praise the resilience that the Jets showed to record “a historic win” that Davis thought would be the springboard to more.
That was after the Jets beat Cleveland in Week 5. They haven’t won since.
Following Sunday’s 38-33 loss to the Raiders, Davis took questions and promised the Jets will “claw our way out of the darkness.”
Davis may believe that. His head coach Aaron Glenn may believe it. Many of Davis’ teammates may believe it. The world outside of 1 Jets Drive doesn’t. Why should they?
It’s been 15 years of missing the playoffs – soon to be 16 – and 10 years since the Jets had a winning record – soon to be 11. So many seasons in this stretch started with optimism and ended with disappointment and disgust.
This season seems destined to follow that same script that has become the norm for the Jets no matter who is the coach, quarterback or offensive and defensive coordinators. From hope to hopeless, the story of the 2026 Jets.
The Jets have more talent than last season, more depth and presumably better coaching across the board. Yet here they are again: 2-6, having lost their last two games at home despite being favored and having watched Raiders fans take over MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
All of this reflects poorly on Glenn. He is the defensive play-caller. His group gave up nearly 40 points on Sunday. They allowed 28 to Miami last week, a team that came in averaging 14 points.
The last three losses have been by a combined 15 points. The Jets are 1-5 in one-score games. They don’t know how to finish or Glenn makes questionable in-game decisions that end up hurting the Jets in the end.
His clock-management issues and end-of-half struggles have been well documented. The Jets have been outscored 107-9 in the final two minutes of first halves of games under Glenn, including 27-3 this year.
Planning to take two end-zone shots from the Raiders’ 35 in the last 14 seconds ended up being the wrong call, too. Geno Smith could have thrown a quick sideline pass on first down to get closer and taken one or two end-zone shots after that. Smith was picked off in the end zone on first down.
Glenn has taken ownership for some of the defensive slippage. The Jets were fifth in points allowed after the Week 5 win and have since dropped to 15. He puts the failure to pull out close games on everyone.
“I look at this as a whole team process because I think it all works together,” Glenn said. “We have to do a good job of making sure you put the players in positions, and the players have to do a good job of making plays. I never look at this as, it's a coach, or it's the players. I look at this like it’s a whole team situation.”
It’s never just one thing, but one thing is certain: Glenn can’t afford too many more losses like this.
There was no official edict from owner Woody Johnson, who hasn’t spoken to reporters since he gave Glenn a vote of confidence over a year ago after an 0-7 start. The belief was the Jets needed to show significant improvement for Glenn to be the coach beyond this season. Being competitive is not good enough.
The defense is backsliding. It’s shaping up to be another year with no meaningful games later in the season and fans of opposing teams filling MetLife Stadium and drowning out Jets loyalists.
The Jets’ next two games are at Kansas City and home against Buffalo. There will be a lot of Bills fans in the Meadowlands that day. The Jets could be 2-8 after this stretch. It’s hard for Glenn to survive any of this, but he continues to have the support of his players.
“I believe in him, the guys believe in him,” Davis said. “One of the things that you haven't seen from this group is any wavering, or any cracking, or any flinching, or any finger pointing, and that's because of his leadership.”
Center Josh Myers said, “I just know in my heart that he’s a great coach. There’s more to it than just one person. This is truly a team effort.”
Glenn says he isn’t worried about his job security, only “improving this team.” But he knows time is running out.
“It's a bottom-line business, and we have to win,” Glenn said. “We still have nine games left. So we still have an opportunity to win nine games.”
The Jets do, but no one believes they can or they will. There may be some inside 1 Jets Drive who have their doubts, too.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
