It’s pretty well-known that New York Jets fans have grown accustomed to skepticism. That may not change much this season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find optimism where an opportunity presents itself
Those roads intersect in a recent CBS Sports ranking of the NFL’s new head coach-quarterback pairings. In it, CBS Sports offered an intriguing theory. It placed the combination of Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith 11th out of 12 duos examined.
The reasoning wasn’t difficult to understand.
CBS pointed to Smith’s disappointing 2025 season, one in which he led the NFL in interceptions. Smith struggled to elevate the Las Vegas Raiders’ offense consistently. Smith also questioned whether a quarterback entering his age-36 season can realistically be expected to reverse that trend.
Meanwhile, Glenn’s first season as a head coach drew criticism after an offseason coaching staff overhaul. Those concerns are fair. They also may overlook some important context.
The Jets believe they’ve improved Smith’s supporting cast. The offensive line is stronger. The skill-position group appears deeper. Expectations for the defense remain high.
No one is suggesting New York should suddenly be viewed as an AFC contender. The Buffalo Bills remain the division’s standard, and the New England Patriots, last February’s AFC representative in the Super Bowl, appear poised to challenge for playoff positioning.
Still, the Jets may be better than an 11th-place ranking suggests.
If Smith benefits from a healthier environment and Glenn settles into his role, New York should have enough talent to avoid the AFC East basement. In fact, don’t be surprised if the Jets finish ahead of the Miami Dolphins and spend much of the season battling for relevance rather than merely playing out the schedule.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets receive underwhelming ranking in head coach-quarterback duo study
Reporting by Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire / Jets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire | USA TODAY Network
