Aaron Glenn charged in the Big Apple as the 12th overall back in the ’94 draft. So, you can understand why the Jets fans thought he’d bring the same energy, almost 3 decades later as an HC. But back at the NFL Annual League Meeting in Palm Beach, Glenn made it crystal clear: this wasn’t just about calling plays anymore. “First, I’m a coach. I just happen to coach defense,” Glenn said at the AFC Coaches’ Breakfast, flashing the grin of a man who’s been planning this takeover for years.
It’s the ‘Hey, I hear it all. But I am the HC now, first and foremost.’ However, come Draft Weekend 2025, we all saw the tough brand of players he went after even before his confession to the same. Glenn ripped the mask off, laying out exactly what traits he demanded from his rookies. “Violence, aggressiveness, smart,” he added, “Those are a few that come to my mind right now, in the players that we wanted to actually be on this team.”
“Violence, aggressiveness, smart.”
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Also, did you notice how he dropped “violence” first? Not grit. Not toughness. Violence. That’s a whole different ballgame. Aaron Glenn doesn’t just want to play football — he wants his team to hit like they’re trying to knock the stadium lights out.
It’s not just a catchy phrase either. Glenn is dead serious about rebranding the Jets. From a team people mocked to a team that makes opponents flinch in warmups. “Tough, physical, violent, aggressive, a resilient attitude,” Glenn said, painting the picture like an artist who only uses black and blue.
Meanwhile, the Jets’ seven draft picks was headlined by Armand Membou on the O-line and Malachi Moore on defense. They fit that DNA to a T. When Glenn says, “you’ll start to see the brand show up on the grass,” he’s not talking about slogans on T-shirts. He’s talking about the one-punch knockout football.
However, you might be wondering, why the obsession with depth? Glenn’s got receipts from last year. Injuries buried Detroit late in the season, and he’s not about to let that happen again in New York. “If anything happens to any of our starters, these guys will be able to come in and play for us,” Glenn explained. So, maybe that’s why he did not go with the overhauling the roster scheme.
But he simply went with flipping the entire vibe inside the locker room. Cut Davante Adams? Bye. Ship out Aaron Rodgers? Don’t let the door hit you. Bring in Justin Fields? Now you’re cooking with gas. Every move has the same blueprint: violent, aggressive, resilient.
Aaron Glenn didn’t hate AR, he just didn’t want him
Aaron Glenn didn’t come into Florham Park carrying a grudge. He came carrying a vision. So, long story short: Aaron Rodgers wasn’t part of the vision. No shade, no drama. Just football. When Glenn finally broke his silence after Rodgers’ scathing retelling of their final meeting, he kept it cooler than a kicker in a blizzard.
Asked about Rodgers’ comments? Aaron Glenn cracked a big grin and said, “[Armand] Membou is a really good player, and I’m so excited he’s a Jet.” Translation: we’re living in 2025 now, not stuck in the past. To add to it, even new GM Darren Mougey couldn’t hold back a laugh, calling Glenn’s mic-drop moment “perfect.”
But let’s rewind the tape a bit, shall we? Rodgers, on The Pat McAfee Show, had painted a pretty icy picture of his final sit-down with Glenn and Mougey. Flew across the country on his own dime, expected a real convo, and instead got the cold shoulder. “Twenty seconds in he goes — ‘So do you wanna play football?’” Rodgers said. Glenn didn’t waste time sugarcoating either. He made it clear: “We’re going in a different direction at quarterback.” And just like that, Rodgers was out of the Jets’ plans.
Now, if you’re thinking this was personal? Nope. Glenn’s playbook has always been about molding schemes around the roster. Not force-fitting stars into uncomfortable spots. Plus, his whole philosophy thrives on aggressive pass rushes, tight man coverage, and fast decision-making under fire.
So, bottom line? No bad blood. No dramatic locker room speeches. It was simply, Glenn making a calculated football decision no matter as rogue it seems. But if you are a Jets’ fan, you don’t care about it, either ways. Instead, you just want the playoff drought to end (the team last played a postseason game in 2010, that’s shocking!). As simple as that.
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