FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Woody Johnson walked alongside the entrance of the New York Jets’ media convention room — greater than the same old one, to accommodate a much bigger crowd — and saved stopping to speak with some in attendance. He approached a bunch of photographers and requested what they thought concerning the staff hiring Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey. He noticed some former Jets, teammates of Glenn from the ’90s, and shook their arms. When Johnson completed chatting with the media after the information convention, he lingered as Glenn was surrounded by a media horde. He bounced across the room, giddy.
Johnson hasn’t been a part of a coach introduction shortly — not since 2015, when Todd Bowles was employed as the brand new head coach and Mike Maccagnan the GM — so perhaps there was some pent up jubilance. He was in the UK when the Jets landed their final two coaches (Robert Saleh and Adam Gase) and basic supervisor (Joe Douglas). All of them failed. However he’s satisfied Glenn, a veteran Jets cornerback when Johnson purchased the staff in 2000, and Mougey are the tandem to drag his franchise again into the playoffs.
“Did you see the 2 guys we simply launched? That’s why,” Johnson stated. “It begins from that. If you wish to have sustained success you need to have the suitable individuals.”
Glenn stated all the suitable issues. Mougey has the expertise, and references, to counsel he can thrive in his first stab as a basic supervisor. They each have a plan to get the Jets again to the postseason, offered individually over a number of three-hour interviews that had been a part of the Jets’ wide-ranging search course of. The staff interviewed greater than 30 basic managers and head coaches, and landed on this duo.
However the one shot the Jets actually have at success begins on the prime: If Johnson doesn’t study the suitable classes from the failures of the Saleh-Douglas period, then the Jets will keep their place within the NFL’s dumpster, reserved for groups that discover extra dysfunction than perform.
“Completely. I’ve to look within the mirror. I’ve to be a greater proprietor,” Johnson stated, probably the most self-reflective assertion he’s ever made because the Jets proprietor. “I’m attempting to be higher. And I do self scout, and lots of people scout for me. … I feel I did it at this time by introducing the 2 leaders of this staff, the second is to — I’ve acquired to have persistence. I’ve acquired to allow them to evolve in these positions, which I feel they may. I feel it’ll be fast, however I feel they’ll evolve.”
GO DEEPER
The Jets are Aaron Glenn’s present now
Johnson has been susceptible to overzealous, impatient decision-making lately, demanding outcomes whereas typically skipping the method that results in them. He was susceptible to micromanagement, pushing the GM to make strikes for gamers who in the end weren’t nice matches, dictating adjustments to the day-to-day schedule, listening an excessive amount of to media and social media and even, at occasions, meddling in lineup selections, as he did in forcing interim coach Jeff Ulbrich to bench security Tony Adams in 2024. Johnson’s impatience led to an impromptu firing of Saleh after a 2-3 begin, which spectacularly backfired because the Jets misplaced 9 of their remaining 12 video games to complete 5-12 in a season that began, in Johnson’s eyes, with Tremendous Bowl aspirations.
“You don’t imagine these experiences, do you? There was quite a lot of exaggeration, hyperbole. There actually was,” Johnson stated. “And you actually should take all that stuff with a grain of salt, since you don’t understand how a lot — no one is aware of how concerned I used to be. Sure, I need Aaron Glenn to educate the staff and I need the final supervisor to handle the belongings and gamers and I’ll take an proprietor’s place. That’s what I’d love to do.”
That Johnson is saying these items is actually signal, as was the staff’s interview and hiring course of, a radical one guided by former Jets basic supervisor Mike Tannenbaum and former Vikings basic supervisor Rick Spielman, representing The thirty third Group. Johnson, vice chairman Christopher Johnson and staff president Hymie Elhai had been in on each interview. Throughout these interviews, Johnson addressed his popularity.
“Attending to know Mr. Johnson and Christopher all through this course of, it’s clear that the Jets possession is fiercely aggressive, cares deeply concerning the gamers and the followers, and is dedicated to successful,” Mougey stated. “I felt that within the interview course of every time we met.”
Clearly, Glenn and Mougey had been comfy with what they had been advised. Of word, each will report on to Johnson — a change from when Saleh reported to Douglas, who reported to Johnson.
“We had questions for one another,” Glenn stated of Johnson. “I used to be right here when Woody purchased the staff. My conversations with him again then had been actually, actually optimistic. Coming again right here on my second interview and sitting and speaking with him, there’s no higher particular person to work for after they sit there and speak, and strategize about having a successful dedication. He has that. That’s all I must know. I sit up for it. I belief him with all the pieces I’ve. I sit up for working with him.”
Perhaps Johnson will truly give Mougey and Glenn the liberty to construct their roster as they see match. If he was enacting his will, he would possibly power them to maneuver on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the 41-year-old spent the second half of the season taking some delicate (and a few not-so-subtle) potshots on the Jets proprietor. However Johnson, he stated, is leaving that as much as his coach and basic supervisor.
“They’ve acquired to try how the staff’s composed and what they assume they want and put all that collectively,” Johnson stated. “No, I’m not going to voice my opinion. That’s as much as them.”
Once more, the phrases are promising. The Jets have the seventh decide within the draft and, relying on how they deal with the Rodgers and Davante Adams contract conditions (commerce, launch or restructure), might have some cap house to work with this offseason. Mougey and Glenn are inheriting a roster with a core of intriguing expertise — Garrett Wilson, Breece Corridor, Quinnen Williams, Sauce Gardner, Quincy Williams, Will McDonald, Jermaine Johnson and an bettering offensive line, specifically — with some apparent holes. There’s a path to the Jets being aggressive instantly.
“I’m not going to inform you what number of video games we’re going to win,” Johnson stated. “We’ll put the staff collectively and perhaps we’ll be in a greater place. However they’re going to place a staff collectively.” In his opening assertion for the information convention, Johnson lauded Mougey’s potential to choose gamers each in school and on the professional personnel aspect, and was impressed along with his emphasis on the significance of the connection between the GM and the pinnacle coach.
At one level, Glenn turned to Mougey and stated: “Darren, bro, we’re on this factor collectively … we’re going to do some magical issues right here.”
Much more essential: The relationships between the proprietor and the coach, and the proprietor and the final supervisor. Perhaps Johnson will keep true to his phrases and let Mougey and Glenn construct out the staff this offseason. However what occurs if the Jets begin gradual? What in the event that they lose a number of video games in a row at a key juncture? What in the event that they miss the playoffs once more?
Solely Johnson is aware of if he’ll, or can, keep the course.
“Strap in your seatbelts,” he stated. “It’s going to be actually, actually enjoyable going ahead. I hope. I anticipate.”
(Picture: Ed Mulholland / Getty Pictures)