“When the tire hits the pavement,” as they say. In New York, it takes place on Sunday at 1 PM against the Steelers.
Dear Coach Glenn:
I hope you enjoyed your honeymoon as Jets coach. You have been hailed by beat writers and Jets fans for your work since you accepted the job as the “HC of the NYJ.” You deserved all the love. You always conducted yourself with class as a player for the Jets, and you’re the same guy that you were as a player. You are easy to root for. When you took the challenge of being the Jets’ head coach, you made us proud. You have brought accountability to the players. You have been preaching discipline to players during minicamp and training camp.
Aaron! (photo CBS Sports)
But starting Sunday, you will be judged by results in the name of wins and losses.
You knew this when you signed up for this job. You understood how New York-New Jersey Jets fans judged you as a player. Unlike most of your predecessors, you get what it means to win with the Jets. It’s why you were qualified to be the Jets head coach, Aaron.
No one expects you to win the Super Bowl this year. Shoot, no one expects you to lead the Jets to the playoffs this year because you are likely handicapped with Justin Fields at quarterback.
There hasn’t been much buzz in town about the Jets’ season opener, even with Aaron Rodgers making his return to MetLife Stadium as the Steelers quarterback after being a flop with the Jets. One can argue that apathy has crept into the Jets fan base.
Only you can change all that, Aaron. What Jets fans want is hope …as in…there will be a better tomorrow.
How about the Jets playing for a winning record this year?
How about meaningful December games for a change?
How about not having the season end before baseball starts the playoffs?
Do those things, and that will do for this season. It’s a low bar, but you have to start somewhere.
This season is about building a winning culture, as you stated. That has to be the objective.
We want you to be the guy who leads the way. You were a fan favorite as a player for going all out on defense. There was a reason Bill Parcells loved you when he coached you. There was a reason you were beloved in the locker room. It’s not just us who want you to do well. Your former teammates are rooting hard for you. It speaks well of you that you are still remembered fondly by fans and your teammates.
Woody Johnson (photo courtesy JetNation)
Your owner, Woody Johnson, wants you to do well, as he has invested a great deal in you. He determined you were the only guy who could get the Jets out of the wilderness because you understand what it takes to be a winner as a New York Jet. He knows you care about the franchise. He doesn’t want to go through another fruitless coaching search.
It would be fitting if you were the guy who led the Jets to better days ahead. That’s why we are rooting for you. If you get the job done, there will be a statue for you at a new Jets stadium one day. You will be bigger than life like Joe Namath if you lead the Jets to a Super Bowl championship for the first time since 1969.
You would make us proud.
Yeah, Rex Ryan is beloved by Jets fans, but I never took a liking to him because he was a blowhard at best. Plus, Ryan was exposed once Eric Mangini’s players left. Ryan became a polarizing head coach at the end of his wacky tenure. You wouldn’t be if you won here.
The players believe in you. You were the reason why Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner signed extensions. They want to win for you. They want to be part of your success.
There’s so much riding on you, AG. We expect you to have the chops to lead here. You paid your dues as a scout for the Jets at one time and then became an assistant coach for the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions. You are definitely qualified to be an NFL head coach.
You certainly act the part by running a great camp, for which you brought refs to Jets practices to make sure players do not get caught up with penalties.
I was hoping you could do well because I want to write about you in such a positive light. I always liked how you went about your business. I don’t want to see you flop for what you have meant for this franchise.
I know you have great intentions as the Jets head coach.
The work starts on Sunday. Hopefully, you can start the season off with a victory. It would validate the great work that you, your coaching staff, and the players have done in minicamp and training camp. Plus, it would wipe the smirk off Aaron Rodgers’ face.
Good luck!
Leslie Monteiro
