Aaron Glenn Could Win Coach of the Year If Jets Snap the NFL's Longest Playoff Drought
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn enters his second season with high expectations after a year in which the team fell well short of its goal of contending.
Glenn's first year at the helm in New York was hampered by inconsistent quarterback play and a roster that struggled on both sides of the ball. The Jets ultimately finished the season with a 3-14 record.
Despite the team's struggles on the field, Glenn remains highly respected around the league after building his strong reputation as the Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator, and one NFL writer believes
Glenn could be a dark horse candidate for the NFL Coach of the Year, at least according to Bleacher Report, who ran a series of long-shot candidates for every NFL award.
Could Aaron Glenn Take Home Coach of the Year?
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay named Aaron Glenn a dark horse candidate for the NFL Coach of the Year Award.
"One candidate being slept on is Aaron Glenn. The New York Jets' head coach is in the bottom-half of the field with 30-1 odds, but Glenn's path to the award is far clearer than most. He simply needs to guide Gang Green to a playoff appearance to win it," Kay wrote.
"Considering the Jets have been mired in the longest postseason drought of any NFL team by a large margin, it shouldn't even take a double-digit number of wins for Glenn to win the award.
Can Glenn coach the Jets to the Postseason?
It remains to be seen whether Glenn can win the NFL Coach of the Year award, as the field is likely to include some of the league's best coaches. The Jets will likely have to emerge as one of the league's best teams for Glenn to receive serious consideration.
The Jets may not be viewed as playoff favorites, especially in a competitive AFC, but things are trending in the right direction for Glenn. The Jets selected edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
They've also rebuilt their defense by adding Nahshon Wright, Demario Davis, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Jets reunited with Geno Smith, who is expected to serve as a one-year stopgap.
While there is no guarantee the Jets will return to the postseason, Glenn has the franchise moving in the right direction. If New York can take a significant step forward and snap its lengthy playoff drought, he could emerge as a legitimate Coach of the Year candidate.
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This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 2:49 PM.