Aaron Glenn has Jets players' support after 3-14 debut season

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Jeremy Ruckert stood in front of his locker with his left eye barely open after getting it poked in Sunday’s final game and expressed belief in Jets leadership, particularly Aaron Glenn.

“This is the most confidence I’ve had since being here of this thing getting flipped,” said the tight end from Lindenhurst, who completed his fourth NFL season. “I know it’s easy to say that. I feel that we have the right pieces, we have the right people in leadership and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

The Jets went 3-14 in Glenn’s first season as head coach. They were overmatched in their last five games, getting outscored 188-54.

Coaches don’t always get a second season after a team performs like that, but there’s been no indication that Glenn’s job is in trouble.

After the Jets’ 35-8 loss in Buffalo on Sunday, Glenn said he would begin working on making sure next season isn’t a repeat of this one. Ruckert and other Jets who spoke Monday when they cleaned out their lockers remain in Glenn’s corner and are confident that next season will be much different.

“I’ve been around enough good leaders to know that he’s a great one,” center Josh Myers said. “I believe in the culture he’s driving, and I really do think it leads directly to winning.”

The Jets missed the postseason for the 15th consecutive year. They were never considered a playoff contender, but they fell far short of expectations.

They weren’t competitive in more than half of their games, losing nine by two scores or more. The Jets allowed the second-most points in the NFL and went the whole season without recording an interception. They’re the first NFL team to do that.

Glenn understands that Jets fans are skeptical that he’s the right man for the job and asked them to “trust me, have faith in what we’re doing.” He also said, “I do know this: It’s going to turn.”

Ruckert, a lifelong Jets fan while growing up on Long Island, said that’s been his mission since he was drafted in the third round in 2022.

“There’s things that we need to fix and we need to fix it now,” he said. “We’re 100% loyal to that. Being a fan my whole life, being from here, I take pride in it and I promise you in the building that we’re thinking about that.

“My number one goal and ultimate goal in this league is to be a part of the team that turns this organization around,” added Ruckert, who signed a two-year extension last month. “I’ve got confidence in these guys and the leadership that we have with AG and all these people. This is the most confidence I’ve had in leadership of believing that we’re going to get it fixed.”

There will be many changes on Glenn’s staff and the roster. The Jets have holes at just about every position, starting with quarterback, and Justin Fields is not expected back.

They do have the means to improve quickly. The Jets have the No. 2 overall pick and three more in the top 44 and roughly $95 million available for free agency, according to Spotrac.

Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips feels for Jets fans and that their “trauma and PTSD” is “actually real.” He thinks fans should show Glenn and this team some patience.

“I can get your frustrations, but for us new people to this organization, it’s our first year, and you got to give us some grace,” Phillips said. “Year One, there’s so much [expletive] we had to figure out. Give us the next eight months of an offseason, let us go out there and try to put our best foot forward next season, and let’s see what the results show.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.