Aaron Glenn preaches patience, stability amid Jets' winless start
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix looks to pass as New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams pursues in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in London. Credit: AP/Ian Walton
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Glenn speaks to reporters, and by extension to Jets fans, four times a week, with messaging aimed at keeping the faith and staying patient.
It is an important part of the job. But a more important part goes on behind closed doors, where the coach must do the same with his players, the only ones who can effect change.
It’s not easy.
Take Quinnen Williams, the Jets’ highly paid, highly skilled defensive tackle, who is in his seventh year and has never experienced a winning season, let alone a playoff game.
When he was asked on Thursday whether he is “antsy” to increase his production, with only one sack so far this season, he answered simply, “I’m antsy to win football games.”
What does Glenn say to a guy like Williams, whose active term with the Jets is second only to that of long snapper Thomas Hennessy?
“Those are the hardest conversations to have,” Glenn said before practice on Friday.
He acknowledged the challenge of preaching the big picture to young men whose career clocks always are ticking loudly.
“When you’re talking to a player like that,” Glenn said of Williams, “he’s a huge part of what we’re doing. His leadership will continually help with that, so kind of directing that message more on your leadership, the way that you operate, the way that you influence other guys.
“I know that he’s been in the league seven years, but who says we can’t get this thing going by this week? Who says we can’t get this thing going by this week going into next year?”
As he often does, Glenn cited his experience as a Lions coach when they finished 3-13-1 in 2021, then started the following season 1-6 before finishing on an 8-2 run.
If the Jets were to follow such a path, Williams could be in a meaningful playoff race sooner than he might currently think.
“Those are my conversations with him,” Glenn said. “Just like I tell the fans, like I tell you (reporters): Don’t let go of the rope, because there’s still a lot more time to get this thing done. We are building a foundation to make sure there’s still stability in what we’re doing.”
Williams, who signed a four-year, $96-million contract extension before the 2023 season, had a sack in the opener against the Steelers and none since. How does he help keep up morale?
“By continuing to do everything we can to win football games,” he said. “By competing at a super-high level, listening to coach AG and doing the things that he instills in us every single week and keep trusting in his belief.”
Hennessy has been with the Jets since 2017 and is on his fifth head coach. He has seen as many winning seasons as Williams has: zero. But he, too, is on board with Glenn’s vision.
“I’m fully bought in on that,” he told Newsday after practice on Friday. “Just from being here since April 7 through the offseason and seeing everything in and day out.
“There’s been no flip-flopping or wavering in the message from the top, and there’s been no flip-flopping or wavering with guys’ daily process, which is hard when you’re not getting the result you want. But you just keep chugging and do your best every single day.”
Notes & quotes: WR Garrett Wilson (knee) is doubtful for Sunday after not practicing all week. If he does not play, it will be the first game he misses in his four-year NFL career.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
