The New York Jets Are Finally Developing an Identity
The Robert Saleh era in New York had a myriad of issues. Between shifting blame to others, not being prepared following bye weeks, and seemingly being beholden to quarterback Aaron Rodgers' will, the team often faced adversity that was brought upon themselves. The most crippling shortcoming of the previous regime, however, was the lack of identity of the team. It often felt like they had no plan on who they wanted to be as a team and more like they were just collecting good players in hopes that they would end up playing well together. This seems to be one of the first things the new coaching staff and front office are seeking to change.
Head coach Aaron Glenn has already witnessed firsthand what a good culture and identity can do for a team. The Detroit Lions were a struggling franchise for the better part of a decade, often coming close to or in last place in the NFC North, before head coach Dan Campbell came in and flipped everything upside down. Glenn watched as the defensive coordinator as Campbell turned a perennial loser into a hard-nosed contender in two seasons through full-team buy-in and a relentless playstyle that just bulldozed opponents. Glenn’s coaching style so far from what he has shown has been similar to Campbell’s, with a little bit of his own personal flair. He emphasizes toughness and leadership, along with drive and relentlessness.
In addition to the culture and intangibles, what will the Jets’ actual on-the-field identity look like? Taking hints from their 2025 draft and free agent classes, it can be assumed that they want to be a run-heavy team this coming season. The Jets signed one of the best running quarterbacks in football in Justin Fields, as well as drafted the physical run blocking Armand Membou to stick at right tackle. In a style fitting for a hard-nosed, tough football team, the Jets project to be a squad that beats up their opponent in the run game, while also stifling them with a strong and talented defense. This Jets team knows exactly what they want their identity to be, and they are already building towards making that vision a reality.
