The New York Jets faced a challenging season in 2025, finishing with a 3-14 record. This performance has led to questions about the future of the team and its coaching staff. Despite the difficult year, former Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum remains optimistic about the team’s long-term prospects and the leadership of Head Coach Aaron Glenn.
Tannenbaum’s organization, “The 33rd Team,” played a role in the Jets’ decision to appoint Glenn as head coach. However, the 2025 season presented numerous hurdles. The team struggled to make key plays, notably failing to record a single interception throughout the entire season. Moreover, they concluded the season with a series of significant defeats, losing each of their final five games by a margin of at least 23 points.
Despite the availability of experienced coaches like Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, and Kevin Stefanski, the Jets have chosen to stand by Glenn. This decision signals a commitment to a longer-term strategy, prioritizing development and growth over immediate results.
Tannenbaum, who served as the Jets’ general manager from 2006 to 2012, shared his perspective on the team’s situation. “It was great to be part of the search a year ago… And I think Aaron Glenn’s going to be a really good coach long term,” Tannenbaum said. He acknowledged that he is no longer directly involved with the organization, he expressed confidence in Glenn’s ability to develop into a successful coach.
Tannenbaum emphasized the importance of the Jets’ long-term plan, particularly their approach to player recruitment and development. “One of the things that I think they deserve credit is they clearly have a long-term plan, without question, in terms of the picks, the draft capital, and I think Aaron Glenn and (general manager) Darren Mougey will continue to execute the plan, and hopefully, you’ll see the results quickly in 2026.”
While the Jets’ current 15-season playoff drought is a source of frustration for fans, Tannenbaum believes there are reasons for optimism. He pointed to the team’s young talent, including a strong offensive line and receiver Garrett Wilson. He also highlighted Mason Taylor as a promising tight end and expressed hope for Breece Hall’s future performance.
“The foundation of a good offensive line is there… It’s really hard to assemble the type of young talent that they have on the offensive line. They have a real No. 1 wide receiver in Garrett Wilson. I think Mason Taylor’s going to be a really good tight end. We’ll see what happens with Breece Hall… there’s a lot of really good foundational pieces,” Tannenbaum explained.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Tannenbaum anticipates significant changes to the Jets’ roster. He believes the team has the resources, including draft picks and salary-cap space, to make improvements and build on the existing foundation.
“And of course, you’d like to win more games in year one, but at the end of the day, we have some of the foundation there, and you have the number of draft choices, the salary-cap room. If you try and take year one, learn from it, take that foundation and improve upon it, I think we’re all hopeful that we’ll see a better product on the field next year. I’m sure they’re going to make a lot of changes on the roster. That’ll be apparent come March when free agency begins.”
The New York Jets are at a crucial juncture. While the 2025 season was undeniably disappointing, the team’s leadership is committed to a long-term vision. With a focus on player development, strategic draft picks, and smart roster management, the Jets aim to build a competitive team that can contend for a playoff spot in the coming years. The patience of Jets fans will be tested, but the organization hopes that its commitment to a well-defined plan will ultimately lead to success.
