Aaron Glenn's former Jets teammates proudly support him as head coach
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn speaks to the media during training camp at the Atlantic Health Training Center on Tuesday in Florham Park, N.J. Credit: Corey Sipkin
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Ray Mickens thought back to when Aaron Glenn was a scout for the Jets in the early 2010s.
Glenn, who lived in Houston at the time, stopped at Mickens’ Dallas home on his drive up to Iowa to scout a college player. Mickens was wowed by the effort, which was routine for Glenn at the time.
Mickens, a fellow former Jets cornerback and Glenn’s teammate from 1996-2001, recalled Glenn talking about his goal of becoming a head coach. Mickens never doubted it.
“Literally my reaction was, I mean, I know he can do it,” Mickens said after Tuesday morning’s Jets practice. “I mean, that's how we all thought back in the day. Whatever our dream, our goal is — yeah, let's get it done. But what it took to get there, you don't know if everybody's wanting to do it. And what I saw from him is somebody who was willing to do anything that it took to become a head coach.
“And so that's what gives me goose bumps to see him out there, is knowing that it wasn't given to him just because he got drafted by the Jets, or just because Woody [Johnson] knows him. He had to go through the process, and that says a lot.”
Glenn will make his head coaching debut on Saturday night in the Jets’ preseason opener at Green Bay.
A dozen of his former Jets teammates were in attendance Tuesday: Mickens, Kevin Mawae, Jason Fabini, Wayne Chrebet, Victor Green, Adrian Murrell, Chad Cascadden, Glenn Foley, Fred Baxter, James Hasty, Jerald Sowell and Rob Carpenter.
Former Jets center Kevin Mawae speaks to the media during training camp at the Atlantic Health Training Center on Tuesday in Florham Park, N.J. Credit: Corey Sipkin
Glenn, the Jets’ 12th overall selection in 1994 who played for the team through the 2001 season, leaned into the nostalgia of the grind he went through with his teammates. He reflected on Bill Parcells taking over a team that went 1-15 in 1996, improving it to 9-7 in 1997 and 12-4 with an AFC Championship Game appearance in 1998.
“It’s always good to see those guys, and I want those guys to be part of what we're trying to build,” Glenn said. “They've been there. They understand exactly what it is to be a Jet, and there's a number of things that goes into playing for this team. And those guys know what it is. We're teaching our guys what it is.”
Glenn closed Tuesday’s practice with a speech to the team that awed his former teammates. Fabini called it “Parcells-ish” and Mawae added it was “Parcells-esque.”
“It was great because you don't hear coaches talk like that with that kind of passion anymore,” Mawae said. “I think it's more special when you're coaching for a team that you sweat and you bled for and that kind of thing. But you just don't hear coaches talk to their players like that. But it was real. It's real passion and emotion, and the guys get it. They buy into that.
“We're out there as former teammates, like, ‘Ah, I'll go suit up for Aaron Glenn for one play.’ That's all I got left . . . As former teammates and Jets alumni, we're excited to see one of our own take the reins of this program and hopefully turn it back to some respectability.”
Mawae also referenced a wall-sized poster that was in the old Jets training room. It pictured the New York skyline with the words: “Do you want to own this town?”
Former Jets lineman Jason Fabini speaks to the media during training camp at the Atlantic Health Training Center on Tuesday in Florham Park, N.J. Credit: Corey Sipkin
All of Glenn’s former teammates are rooting for him to do so.
“He's a brother, man,” Fabini said. “We played together, and we went through a lot, and to see him succeed is awesome. And I think he knows New York, and he knows, I think, what it takes to win here. And if he wins here, what's going to happen. So I think that's awesome.
“And I think that's what we former players — we want to see the team win.”
Two-minute drill
Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor (knee) did not practice for a second straight day. Glenn described the injury for the 36-year-old Taylor as “wear and tear” and something they want to take care of so he is ready for the start of the season. “I don’t see it as a long-term [injury], but I don’t want to just stamp that right now,” Glenn said. “But, I’m sure it is not.” . . . Rookie tight end Mason Taylor, the Jets’ 42nd overall pick, has a high ankle sprain and will miss at least a week . . . Three Jets were injured during practice: defensive lineman Byron Cowart (ankle), cornerback Azareye’h Thomas (shoulder) and edge Will McDonald IV (back spasms).
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
