Two things can be true. The Jets’ willingness to trade down could signal a final decision on drafting Simpson, but it could also be that New York is playing chess, and not checkers ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. After Glenn’s latest comments on Simpson, it sure looks like the soon-to-be rookie quarterback has made quite a first impression on the Gang Green.

“[Simpson] is obviously a coach’s kid. He’s extremely smart. He works his a– off. Even in the private workout that we had, he was very detailed. We’ll see how this process goes, but he did a good job,” Glenn admitted during the NFL‘s head coaches meeting before the 2026 NFL season, via @snyjets on X.

Jets are keeping tabs on Simpson

Needless to say, the Jets need help in almost every area of the football field. Their 3–14 record in 2025 paints a clear picture of where they stand, and, as much as Glenn and company would love to convince themselves otherwise, things rarely change overnight in the NFL for organizations as troubled as New York’s.

Though rare, if one thing can truly put a franchise back on its feet, it’s finding a franchise quarterback in the Draft. Simpson could very well be that for the Jets. New York is not fully sold on that promise, though—or at least, it isn’t saying it out loud for the rest of the league to take notice, which would be smart on the Jets’ part.

“My feeling is, you always want to build your roster with good players. Whatever position that is. Obviously, the quarterback is the top position in your team. If we feel like he’s the best player on the board, that’s who we draft. We’re not trying to reach and grab for guys,” Glenn answered a question on whether the Jets will draft a QB, namely Simpson, in 2026 or wait for the quarterback-stacked class of 2027, per SNY.

Draft Simpson or roll with Geno Smith?

Geno Smith is set to be the starting quarterback for the Jets in 2026. Glenn has even gone as far as to say he can be the signal-caller who takes New York to “the promised land.” Fans in East Rutherford have a hard time buying into that statement, especially after watching Smith spiral out of control with the Las Vegas Raiders last season. Still, they can understand where Glenn’s message is coming from, and why he has no other choice but to say it.

Regardless, the expectation around “The City” is that the Jets will be a bottom-feeder in the NFL next season and end up with a top pick that could put them in prime position to select their next great quarterback. As things stand, the majority of the fan base in the Big Apple is looking ahead to next year’s draft, when the likes of Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Julian Sayin, and other high-end quarterback prospects will enter the league.

Glenn has to make an impact fast in New York

As much as Glenn may be excited about that class, he can’t make any such public admission. Glenn must first worry about keeping his head coaching job for another year in an organization that never hesitates to send its head coaches packing. Glenn may never have another shot in the NFL as a head coach, so he must make the most of it. That means taking risks and hoping for the best.

Put into practice, it could very well mean drafting Simpson in the upcoming draft. Glenn and the Jets could take a safer route, but at the end of the day, it’s quarterbacks who change the narrative. If New York drafts a top pass rusher, cornerback, or another position, it will be forgotten quickly. If the Jets find their franchise quarterback, though, those are the kind of draft-day decisions that make NFL history.

“Listen, he’s done it. I mean, those years in Seattle, when he was, I think, Comeback Player of the Year. Man, he was up for MVP early in the season. There’s no doubt in my mind that we brought a competent starter here to this team,” the head coach said via Ari Meirov on X.

At the moment, Smith shares the QB room with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe. Nevertheless, barring any unforeseen circumstances, everything points to him being the natural replacement for Justin Fields starting in Week 1.

A misstep in Las Vegas

Geno Smith’s tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders proved to be a difficult one-and-done experiment characterized by high turnover rates and a lack of protection. Joining the team via trade from Seattle in March 2025, Smith struggled to find his rhythm behind a porous offensive line that allowed him to be sacked 55 times.

While he managed to throw for 3,025 yards and 19 touchdowns, he also recorded a league-worst 17 interceptions, contributing to a disappointing 2-13 record as a starter. Despite a historic debut where he broke a 45-year-old franchise record for passing yards in a Raiders debut, the team’s overall offensive struggles led to his departure.

Glenn needs stability at QB

Heading into his second season as the Jets’ head coach, Aaron Glenn is prioritizing stability at the quarterback position after a tumultuous 2025 campaign. Last year, his offense struggled significantly under Justin Fields, whose season was marred by inconsistency and a league-high sack rate before a knee injury and eventual benching ended his tenure in New York.

In his absence, the Jets turned to veteran Tyrod Taylor to stabilize the unit, and later utilized Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe as the team limped to a 3-14 finish.

A tough schedule ahead for the Jets

Although the exact dates of the games are still unknown, the New York Jets already know their opponents. If this team wants to compete in the AFC East race, it will need to stay strong week after week.

According to the team’s website, the Jets interviewed Frank Reich for the offensive coordinator vacancy. Reich won the Super Bowl as the Eagles offensive coordinator in 2017. He was then the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers, before going to Stanford, where he served as interim head coach and then as a senior advisor.

Reich is known as a great offensive mind in the business. Head coach Aaron Glenn relieved Tanner Engstrand from his offensive coordinator role after just one season, where the former Detroit Lions passing game coordinator failed to deliver. The Jets offense ranked 29th in total yards, dead-last in passing yards, and 29th in scoring.

Reich has the resume, but is still a risky move

The last time we saw Frank Reich in the NFL, he was being fired after 11 games by Carolina, in which his team went 1-10. This is the fourth shortest head coach stint in NFL history (not interims taken into consideration). After that, it’s been three years since he hasn’t been in the league and that might be troublesome.

Reich is 64 years old and this league has evolved. While no one will deny he knows plenty of football and his offensive playcalling has been above average, there’s no guarantee he will be able to do so after years away from the league. The concerns could increase given that the Jets roster is not stacked by any means.

The Jets don’t even know how they’ll look in 2026

Many players will be out of contract with the Jets in 2026, but not only that, there is some real concern on the quarterback position. Justin Fields has a contract for next year but he might not be seen as the solution. In fact, he was benched by Tyrod Taylor at a point this season.

Hence, Reich, or any of the other interviewees (former Chargers OC Greg Roman, Dolphins quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell, Bills quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry, and Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells), won’t have any certainties coming into the season. Needless to say, it’s a tough job to accept, since the situation is an uphill battle.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Glenn said Tyrod Taylor will be the one commanding the offense against the Baltimore Ravens. This means Justin Fields is going to be benched.

Glenn hinted that this was going to happen last week, but this time it’s happening for real. Both parties have been informed according to Rapoport. Now, it’s a veteran presence behind center.

Taylor is a new dynamic, but not precisely an upgrade

Taylor is a well-known quarterback in the NFL. He was a starter back in the day, but ended up being a journeyman. Taylor already played three games this season, starting one of them. He is 0-1 and has completed only 62.3% of his passes, with three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Taylor won’t be a world beater, but at least could provide some maturity in the quarterback position, something that Justin Fields hasn’t done. Fields is a bit wild and erratic, Taylor is more poised and calm. That doesn’t mean he is an upgrade, after all, he has been a backup for a reason.

The Jets will face a desperate team

The Ravens are a desperate team trying to catch up and get a playoff spot. Also, they are on a four-game winning streak. They are unbeaten since the bye week, and the Jets shouldn’t be a team that concern Baltimore.

The Jets have the third worst record in the NFL. They are 2-8, only behind the 1-9 Titans and the 2-9 Giants. The only other teams with a 2-8 record are the Browns and the Saints.

The former Steelers quarterback arrived in the Big Apple this past offseason with the goal of capably replacing Aaron Rodgers. But after an up-and-down start to his tenure, Fields now finds himself squarely in the eye of the storm. His head coach is dissecting every detail as he weighs what decision to make moving forward.

“You know what? I’m evaluating everything, to be honest with you,” Glenn said, via the Associated Press. “I’m evaluating myself, the players, schematics, coaches, I’m evaluating everything. So, I don’t want to just place everything on that, that one situation. I’m just looking at everything, because as a head coach, that’s my job, to make sure that I put this team in the best position to go win games.”

With a handful of intriguing matchups ahead, Glenn still has to carefully evaluate what to do at the QB1 spot — whether to stick with Fields or make a bold move and turn to Tyrod Taylor.

Fields’ season in New York

Quarterback Justin Fields’ first full season with the New York Jets has been defined by frustrating inconsistency, contributing to the team’s ongoing struggles to secure wins. Through nine starts, the dual-threat QB has flashed moments of brilliance but has largely struggled to generate sustained drives.

Fields has compiled 1,885 passing yards with a 59.2% completion rate, throwing 11 touchdowns versus 8 interceptions (79.1 Passer Rating). His rushing ability remains a bright spot, leading the team with 415 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns. However, the Jets’ offense ranks near the bottom of the league in points per game, putting Fields’ long-term future with the franchise under intense scrutiny.

What’s next for the Jets?

The Jets are heading into a critical and daunting three-game stretch that will likely define their NFL season. The run begins with a brutal road test against the high-flying Baltimore Ravens, a perennial contender with an elite defense.

The Jets then return home to MetLife Stadium for back-to-back contests, first hosting the surging Atlanta Falcons, followed by a pivotal AFC East divisional clash against the Miami Dolphins.

The Jets entered Week 11 riding a two-game winning streak. Unfortunately for them, they ran into one of the NFL’s hottest teams. The Patriots, currently a juggernaut, controlled the matchup and handed New York a 27-14 loss.

While many expected that result, Aaron Glenn still hoped for a stronger performance from his players — especially Justin Fields, who remains under the microscope.

Aaron Glenn puts extra pressure on Justin Fields after loss to Patriots

The Jets are far from their best moment this season. After securing their first win in Week 8, they seemed to be gaining momentum, but Week 11 brought them back to reality.

On the road in Foxborough, the Jets could not match the Patriots’ level of play. Despite the 13-point difference, New York struggled to provide any real challenge.

Justin Fields remains the starting quarterback — in part due to Tyrod Taylor’s lingering health issues — but he once again fell short of expectations. His performance immediately reignited criticism about his consistency and decision-making.

Throughout the game, Fields was asked to use his legs more than usual. While the Jets understand his rushing ability is one of his biggest strengths, Aaron Glenn has made it clear he doesn’t want Fields to rely on running as a crutch. Instead, he wants him to focus on developing as what he is: a quarterback.

“We don’t want to make a habit of our quarterbacks continuing to run because we can put them in harm’s way,” HC Aaron Glenn said. “I felt like if we get a fast start we’ll be in a good position, and Justin ran the ball quite a bit. The thing is, we can’t put Justin in a situation where he’s a running back, and I think we all know that, because we’re putting him in harm’s way.”

Garrett Wilson was unable to finish the game in which his team ultimately defeated the Browns at home due to knee discomfort—the same issue that kept him out in Weeks 7 and 8. Despite this, the head coach is confident he’ll be available in Foxborough.

“As we go through that whole process as far as imaging — getting him checked out by the docs before we really stamp what the issue is,” Glenn said at a Monday press conference. “Hopefully he’ll be good to play this week, but I don’t want to stamp that just yet.”

Following the departure of Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner in last week’s trade deadline, Wilson has emerged as one of the team’s top leaders, alongside players like Breece Hall and Justin Fields.

Wilson’s impact on the Jets’ offense

Despite the New York Jets‘ offensive struggles, Garrett Wilson continues to be the unquestioned centerpiece of their passing attack. Through six games this season, the star receiver has amassed 36 receptions for 395 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Wilson’s 56 targets underscore his critical role as the Jets’ primary playmaker, showing he is the go-to option that defenses must neutralize if they hope to slow down New York’s limited offense.

In search of their third win

The New York Jets, fresh off their second consecutive victory, face a quick turnaround as they travel to Gillette Stadium to battle the division-rival New England Patriots this Thursday night.

The primetime matchup gives the Jets a chance to secure their first three-game winning streak of the season. A victory on the road against a familiar AFC East foe would be a crucial step in signaling a genuine mid-season revival.

The Jets’ next challenge comes at home against the Cleveland Browns, and uncertainty over who will start at quarterback is starting to loom. Fields or Tyrod Taylor — those are the two options the coach has to choose from.

NFL reporter Rich Cimini revealed on his official X account (formerly Twitter) that Glenn has yet to give any indication of who might start at MetLife Stadium. However, all signs point to the former Bears and Steelers quarterback once again taking the opening snap.

“Once again, Aaron Glenn refuses to announce his starting QB. All he says is, ‘We’ll have a quarterback.’ He won’t even say if he hopes to get to a point where there’s an entrenched starter. And so it goes. Obviously, Fields is expected to get the nod. #Jets,” the insider reported via @RichCimini.

Busy week in New York

In a stunning, franchise-altering move, the New York Jets effectively hit the reset button at the NFL Trade Deadline, shipping out their two defensive cornerstones: All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

With the team mired in a losing season, General Manager Darren Mougey orchestrated a massive haul of future draft capital, sending Gardner to the surging Indianapolis Colts for a pair of first-round picks, and dealing Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for another first-rounder and more assets.

The trades represent a clear pivot toward a full rebuild centered around securing a franchise quarterback, but the immediate loss of two elite defensive stars plunges the Jets’ remaining 2025 campaign into uncertainty.

What’s next for the Jets?

Following their dramatic trade deadline defensive overhaul, the New York Jets face a brutal three-game stretch that will severely test their depleted roster. The schedule begins with a demanding home matchup against the fierce Cleveland Browns, followed by two challenging road games against playoff contenders.

They travel to Foxborough to take on the arch-rival New England Patriots, who are always tough in division play, before heading to Baltimore for a daunting clash with the dominant Ravens. With key defensive stars now elsewhere, this trio of games presents a massive uphill climb for a Jets team focused more on evaluating young talent than chasing wins.

Winless no more. The New York Jets finally won a game in what was an absolute thriller against the Cincinnati Bengals. The win was greatly in part to running back Breece Hall being unstopabble. After the game, he sent a clear statement towards head coach Aaron Glenn and the coaching staff.

Speaking to the media, Hall said, “I went to the coaches this weekend, not complaining, but letting them know I need the ball at least 25 times.” Hall had a huge game and was key to beat the Bengals.

He then added that he should be the reason for the team to win or lose. “I always told them I hate losing, and if we lose, I want it to be on me,” he said. Plain and simple, he considers himself the best player on the team, so feed him.

Hall did a bit of everything against Cincinnati

Being 0-7 will make you do crazy things. However, if you have Breece Hall as your running back, there’s a chance they will work. Hall had 18 carries, 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals. He also had two catches for 14 yards and one passing touchdown.

The Jets were able to have their best offensive week of the season. They had 502 total yards of offense, averaged 7.2 yards per play, were 7/15 on third downs, 2/3 on fourth downs and allowed no sacks. Yes, the Bengals defense is terrible, but the Jets don’t have to apologize for that, they deal with the problem in front of them.

What’s next for the Jets?

Next week, the Jets host the Browns in a game that could be a massive test for both. The Browns have a much better defense than the Bengals, so if the Jets can move the ball against them, it’s a good sign for the offense. Also, the Browns have a much worse offense than the Bengals, so it should serve as a good test for the Jets to stop them and not allow many points.

After that, the visit the Patriots and Ravens in two very tough games. Those are followed by a two-game stretch against the Falcons and Dolphins, which are winnable, competitive matchups. While the Jets are no playoff team, the next few weeks could serve as a silver lining for the Aaron Glenn‘s era.

The New York Jets are having one of the worse quarterback battles in recent memory. Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor are not working but one of them has to play. However, Aaron Glenn as the head coach needs to make a definitive statement, which he is not doing ahead of their Week 8 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

When asked about who is starting, Glenn said, “I cannot tell you that,” Glenn said. He stated that he won’t say it because he doesn’t want to give any competitive advantages to the Bengals.

He reminded about the time where he suffered that uncertainty when he was the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions. Still, for a team suffering these many problems, they would appreciate having clarity on their QB situation.

Neither QB will have the team’s best weapon

Whether it’s Taylor or Fields under center, the Jets will have to do without their best receiver, Garrett Wilson. The Ohio State product will miss the game due to a knee injury and he is by far and away the best weapon the team has.

Wilson leads the Jets with 395 receiving yards and four touchdowns. But, if he’s out, it will be even harder for any QB to move the chains. This Jets team is just very limited offensively.

The Jets must win a game

Being the only winless team in the NFL is a record no team wants. The Bengals have a backup quarterback too in Joe Flacco, but Flacco is playing way better than either Taylor or Fields for that matter.

Now, without Wilson and a bad quarterback, it’s tough to think they will be better than the Bengals. But, any given Sunday is one of the NFL’s mottos. It will be tough to defend Chase and Higgins without All Pro Sauce Gardner too.

In Week 7, the Jets benched Justin Fields for the second half against the Panthers. After a rough start to the game, Aaron Glenn decided to replace him with Tyrod Taylor.

Following that move, rumors began to circulate that the Jets could move on from Fields for Week 8. While the team has yet to make an official announcement, owner Woody Johnson has made his stance clear on the situation.

Jets owner Woody Johnson pressures Aaron Glenn to move on from Justin Fields

After just seven games, it seems like the Jets are ready for a change at quarterback. Fields has failed to meet expectations and, after an 0-7 start, fans are demanding a shake-up.

In Week 7, Fields completed only 6 of 12 passes for 46 yards before being benched at halftime — a clear message from head coach Aaron Glenn.

While Tyrod Taylor didn’t exactly light up the field either, fans have already lost patience with Fields. They aren’t the only ones frustrated, as owner Woody Johnson has also criticized the quarterback for his ongoing struggles.

“It’s hard when you have a quarterback with the rating that we’ve got,” Johnson said when asked about the team’s issues. “If you look at any head coach with a quarterback like that, you’re going to see similar results. …If we can just complete a pass, it would look good.”

Fields might not be the only problem

Whenever a team keeps losing, the quarterback usually takes most of the blame. However, the Jets have been a mess under multiple quarterbacks, which suggests Fields might not be the only issue.

Before Week 6, the Jets were the only team in the entire league without forcing a turnover. Aaron Glenn is a defensive-minded coach, so while Fields has clearly underperformed, the defense also needs to step up — or Glenn himself could soon be on the hot seat.