New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is entering his second season looking to move the team on from a disastrous 2025 campaign, bringing in veteran quarterback Geno Smith and new offensive coordinator Frank Reich as the cornerstones of the rebuild. The changes follow a franchise low point and are aimed at restoring basic competitiveness in a division the Jets finished bottom of last year, though analysts remain sceptical that the improvements will translate into a significantly higher win total.

The Jets finished 2025 with a 3–14 record, last in the AFC East, losing their final five games by 23 points or more after mid-season trades stripped out key players; no quarterback among the three who started managed ten touchdowns, and the defence recorded zero interceptions all season. Running back Breece Hall was a rare positive, rushing for 1,065 yards. Over the offseason, Glenn reshuffled his coaching staff, general manager Darren Mougey used substantial cap space and draft capital to bring back Smith and add rookie Cade Klubnik, while trading for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and drafting pass-rusher David Bailey. Despite the moves, the offensive line ranks 21st and the defensive line 29th in the league per PFF grades, leading one Fox News/Outkick columnist to bet on New York's win total staying under expectations for 2026.