The Jets' vibe shift at quarterback is already obvious
Watching the 2025 Jets in the first practice that has been open to the media, it was hard not to feel the difference in Florham Park from the past two years. The Jets sold their souls to acquire Rodgers in 2023 — with good reason after watching Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick, flop in his first two years. But everything in the Jets' universe revolved around Rodgers from the minute that Robert Saleh, Joe Douglas, Woody Johnson and Christopher Johnson traveled to Malibu on their recruiting mission.
The Aaron Rodgers Show has been replaced by the Aaron Glenn Show. The head coach is again the center of the Jets universe, and it feels healthier.
That is no guarantee this latest reboot of the Jets will be any more successful than the last one, but it does feel like the grown-ups are back in charge after two years of Rodgers calling the shots.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jets' Sauce Gardner Reveals Muscle Move Amid Contract Talks
Jets' Sauce Gardner Reveals Muscle Move Amid Contract Talks originally appeared on Athlon Sports. New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner is coming off what was for him a disappointing 2024 season - all things being relative, of course - and he is now revealing his plan to get better ... Advertisement By getting bigger. Gardner is listed at 190 pounds, and that has generally worked for him as he's been a Pro Bowl-level performer from the very start of his young career. But he is now telling The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN that he has added good weight and muscle to his frame. .... And that he is now 10 pounds heavier than his previous playing weight. 'I'm not gonna lie, this offseason has been by far my best. . . . I feel great,' Gardner said. 'I'm sitting about 200 pounds right now and I don't think I've ever really played that heavy. But it's like the more weight I've put on, the more muscle, the more explosive and the faster I become with that muscle that I've put on.' Advertisement Can more weight lead to more money? That's part of the plan here, too. Gardner is looking for a contract extension and has said that he believes that talks with the Jets are moving in the proper direction. And even after a year he wishes to improve upon? There are some other numbers that do not lie. In a recent article by PFF's John Kosko, he ranks who he believes are the top 32 cornerbacks in the league heading into the 2025 season. At the top spot in his list, he has Jets superstar Sauce Gardner. "Gardner's 91.9 PFF coverage grade since 2022 leads the league. He has forced a league-high 46 incompletions and allowed a league-low 0.60 yards per cover snap and 21.4% first-down-plus-touchdown rate over that span," Kosko wrote. "Unsurprisingly, Gardner's PFF advanced coverage grade ranks first, as well. While he might not shadow opposing wide receivers at a high rate, he has excelled when asked to do so." Advertisement Consider this ... Gardner was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022, as well as being named First Team All-Pro in both of his first two seasons. He also led the NFL in passes defended in his rookie year with 20, which goes to show just how good the 24-year-old corner already is. He will be looking to bounce back from his slightly disappointing 2024 and prove that he is still worthy of the title of the best cornerback in the NFL. He will do it with 10 more pounds ... and with the going rate for superstar corners now inching toward $30 mil per year, maybe millions more in the bank. Related: Jets 'Potential Landing Spot' For Ex-Cowboys $100 Million Receiver This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
Jets OC Tanner Engstrand discusses his relationship with QB Justin Fields
New York Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand will help dictate the success of the offense this coming season. Engstrand joins the East Rutherford-based club as head coach Aaron Glenn's debut hire to oversee the offense as the play caller. He's tasked with running the entire operation, but his relationship with starting quarterback Justin Fields is especially imperative. The Jets signed Fields to a two-year contract this offseason to be their starting quarterback. Engstrand is tasked with building an offense around Fields' dual-threat passing and rushing abilities. The Jets expect Engstand to help improve an offense that finished 24th in scoring last season. Engstrand recently spoke with the New York Jets' official podcast. The play-caller acknowledged the relationship between he and Fields is key to the offense's success. "I think they have to think the same," Engstrand said about the relationship between QB and play caller. "They have to know what each other is thinking, so when I call a play, Justin or the other QBs, have to know what I'm thinking, and why I'm calling that play, so you really have to be on the same wavelength as far as what you're trying to accomplish on every play." Engstrand spent the previous two seasons as the Detroit Lions' passing game coordinator (2023-24). He helped Lions OC and play-caller Ben Johnson oversee the league's most explosive offense throughout that stretch. Engstrand has never called plays at the NFL level, however, so this represents a big-time opportunity for him to separate himself from Johnson's success. Prior to being Detroit's passing game coordinator, Engstrand spent three more seasons (2020-22) on the Lions' staff as an offensive assistant, quality control coach, and tight ends coach. Coach Glenn spent four seasons in Detroit on staff with Engstrand, hence the existing relationship. Engstand is saying the right things, but he'll be judged by the results of the 2025 season.
USA Today
11 hours ago
- USA Today
Jets CB Sauce Gardner sets high expectations for his 2025 season
New York Jets superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner is entering a pivotal campaign. He'll be his first under new defensive-minded head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. Gardner is hoping to sign a shattering contract extension that would establish him as a face-of-the-franchise player for years to come. Gardner made a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Gardner discussed a number of topics, including Coach Glenn and Justin Fields. He also set high expectations for himself throughout 2025. "This offseason has been by far my best offseason," Gardner said in response. "I just left L.A. from training with my trainer, and I feel great. I'm sitting [at] about 200 pounds right now. I don't think I've ever played that [at that weight] heavy before. The more muscle, the more explosive and faster I've become." The Jets recently triggered Gardner's fifth-year option. That decision keeps the former Cincinnati Bearcats standout under contract through 2026, but Gardner hopes to sign a lucrative extension this offseason. Many of his draftmates, including fellow corner Derek Stingley Jr., have already signed their respective extensions, adding a sense of urgency for Mougey to get something done. Gardner is pleased with his offseason preparation, feeling faster and explosive than ever. The Jets are fortunate to have a stud cornerback in his prime. All that's left is for Gardner to ink his multi-year extension this summer.
