Fifteen consecutive seasons absent from the NFL postseason, 2026 could be the year that the New York Jets party like it’s 2010.
It’s only Week 3 of the schedule as the Jets prep for Sunday’s game at Detroit’s downtown Ford Field against the Lions.
Although both teams are holding a 1–1 record, for the Jets to be at .500, there is a reason for optimism that better days are ahead.
New York’s head coach Aaron Glenn, now in his second season calling the shots for the AFC team that calls the New Jersey Meadowlands home, is seeing signs that maybe, just maybe, the darker days are finally disappearing behind them.
Finishing at 3–14 in 2025, improvement seems unavoidable. One would think that is a sure bet. However, this is the Jets being discussed.
The last time the Jets finished a season with a winning record was 2015. Although they finished at a respectable 10–6, the team missed out on the playoffs.
To remember when New York last ended a season that led to a postseason bid, you have to look at 2010.
The Jets participated in two consecutive AFC Championship games in 2010 and 2011, and they lost both attempts to appear in the Super Bowl.
New York, now in its 67th year of operation, has only claimed ownership of a single Lombardi Trophy.
Winning Super Bowl III in 1969, the Jets have not returned to the NFL’s marquee event in 57 years.
After winning on the road over the Tennessee Titans 23–10 in Week 1, having the Jets start off their season on a positive note gives reason to celebrate.
Then, losing in overtime in Week 2 at home to the Green Bay Packers 20–17, Glenn’s guys are not only competitive, but are not presenting themselves as the same old lovable losers in Gotham.
Still, Glenn, who was signed by New York to a five-year deal in January 2025, isn’t resting on the encouraging results he has seen early on this season.
Speaking with reporters after the Green Bay game, Glenn made it clear that just being competitive will not be tolerated in 2026.
“This loss is not going to define who we are, and we’re about, but it’s not okay,” the head coach continued. “Our guys know that.”
On Monday, when news concerning the Jets’ defense began circulating in the NFL, how could Glenn not have smiled in appreciation?
Defensive coordinator Brian Duker deserves to take a bow when it was announced that after Week 2, New York was first in total defense.
In their first two games, the Jets have held their opponents to under 200 yards each week. This is the first time since 2009 that the Jets, after the first two games of a season, have the top-ranked defense.
Glenn impressed upon his team that regardless of how one unit has performed overall going into Week 3, there is work to be done throughout their game plan.
Allowing the Packers to drive 43 yards in seven plays, en route to an overtime game-winning field goal, won’t be an easy task to shake off for the head coach anytime soon.
“We were not good on special teams, we didn’t establish the run, our defense let them come down the field and score, and they had a ton of balls punched out but only came up with one of them.”
Geno Smith of the New York Jets passes against the Green Bay Packers during their game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sept. 20, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Does the offense led by quarterback Geno Smith need help to get them out of a 14th-place ranking among all 32 teams?
Of course. But they are still better than more than half of offenses. With the defense allowing a league-low 197.0 yards per game in its first two games, Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey could be the two who reverse the curse of Jets football and return the franchise to a new era of glory days.
The Lions are coming off a Week 2 41–31 road loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Detroit’s defense allowed 299 yards in the first half alone.
New York’s offense has every reason to wake up against a weaker Lions’ defense.
Smith has completed 46 passes thus far, good for 462 yards.
The Lions have coughed up 10 touchdowns in their first two games. Glenn knows Detroit’s personnel like few do around the league.
Before getting the Jets gig, Glenn served the previous four seasons as the Lions’ defensive coordinator.
Although it seems that every season for as long as most Jets fans care to remember, the head coach is in the hot seat.
Some coaches have lasted longer than others, but there have ultimately been no survivors.
Since the Jets were members of the now-defunct American Football League, beginning in 1960, only Hall of Fame Coach Weeb Ewbank has taken the green and white to the NFL’s promised land.
Having played cornerback for eight seasons with the Jets, plus a couple more years in their scouting department, Glenn is focusing on joining that exclusive club with Ewbank as the franchise’s greatest coaches.
So far, the baby steps taken in returning the team to respectability are signaling better days ahead for the Jets—one game at a time.
