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Rich Cimini
multiple authors
defensive tackle Harrison Phillipsone of the following New York Jets‘ The veteran leaders spoke candidly Thursday about losing the “same old Jets” mentality that had crept into the locker room during the team’s 3-14 season under first-year coach Aaron Glenn.
“I think AG inherited a very cancerous, destructive group — the whole thing, top to bottom,” Phillips told Roundtable Sports on radio row at the Super Bowl.
Phillips was responding to a question about why he thinks Glenn can turn it around in 2026. Basically, he said the culture was so toxic that it would always take more than a year to reverse.
“It’s not individual people’s fault,” said Phillips, who was acquired in an August trade. minnesota vikings. “I was there for a season – it was a very tough season – and I almost wavered on some of my ideas, my beliefs and my optimism.
“So, I can’t imagine being there year after year and not seeing the results you wanted, and it stigmatized people.”
The Jets have had 10 consecutive losing seasons, missing the playoffs 15 consecutive years – the NFL’s longest active drought.
Explaining what happens in a losing environment, Phillips said players become distracted “because my coach is going to be fired, my teammates are going to be fired, I’m going to be a free agent, I could be fired, I have to play for me, I have to make sure my tape is hot regardless of what the system is telling me to do, what the scheme is telling me to do.”
“Then, younger players come in and see, ‘Oh, this is my vet, they’re acting the same way, so I’m going to act the same way.’ It’s a long series of things and it can’t be fixed that way.”
Later, when reached by the New York Post on the radio controversy, Phillips tried to clarify his comments, saying he was not criticizing individuals, but rather the “same old Jets” mentality.
“It’s a cancerous idea,” he told the newspaper.
Glenn, who inherited about 25 players from the previous coaching staff, often talked about changing the culture. But it was too big a challenge, considering the Jets had lost seven and five games in a row.
The offseason has also been tumultuous, as Glenn waited until three weeks after the season before firing offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. He also fired eight other assistants. He then hired Frank Reich to replace Engstrand and Brian Duker to replace Steve Wilks, who was fired as defensive coordinator at the end of the season.
With Glenn expected to continue his overhaul of the roster, Phillips is confident the team can bounce back in 2026.
“I think AG’s mentality, as good as any coach I’ve been with, to deal with what we had to deal with this season and how consistent he was with us throughout that whole thing, was great to see,” Phillips said.
