Darren Mougey met with reporters last Tuesday at the Jets’ facility, two days after New York closed a 3–14 season that extended the franchise’s playoff drought to 15 straight years. Mougey appeared alongside head coach Aaron Glenn during the season wrap-up news conference, closing out their first year working together in their current roles.
“I believe we can be competitive and respectable right away, next year,” Mougey said.
The comments followed a season that ended sharply. The Jets lost their final five games and were outscored 188–54 during that stretch, leaving little doubt about the scale of the team’s struggles.
- Jets general manager Darren Mougey believes the team can be “competitive and respectable” as soon as next season, despite finishing 3–14.
- The Jets will “exhaust every option” at quarterback using major draft assets and more than $74 million in cap space.
- Major roster and coaching decisions, including the defensive coordinator role and the future of Justin Fields and Breece Hall, will shape a critical offseason.
On-Field Results and How the Jets Are Viewed
Multiple decisions contributed to the late-season collapse, including the move to start Justin Fields at quarterback and the hiring of Steve Wilks as defensive coordinator, who was later dismissed.
Fields started nine games before being benched and finished the season on injured reserve with a knee injury. The offense struggled throughout the year, finishing 29th in points scored. The defense ranked 31st in points allowed and did not record a single interception. And the team’s leading receiver finished the season with 395 receiving yards.
The results have influenced how the team is viewed outside the building. As of early January 2026, sportsbooks list the Jets as long shots to win Super Bowl LX. Covers lists New York at +13,000. BetMGM, via VegasInsider with odds dated January 7, 2026, lists the Jets at +15,000. DraftKings, as reported by Legal Sports Report, lists the Jets at +25,000. Caesars drew attention after a $3,000 wager was placed on the Jets at 200–1, or +20,000.
Pricing earlier in the cycle shows movement. In March 2025, Covers listed the Jets at +18,000, indicating that odds have shifted at some books despite the 3–14 finish.
Aaron Glenn accepted responsibility for the season and spoke about what he and the staff learned during his first year as a head coach after four seasons as the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator.
Quarterback Questions and Available Resources
Quarterback remains the central issue facing the Jets. The position has lacked stability for more than a decade, and the Fields experiment did not provide a long-term answer.
Fields has one year remaining on his contract. Glenn addressed the situation briefly, saying, “Justin is under contract,” and added that rookie Brady Cook, who started the final four games, is signed for next season.
Mougey said the organization plans to explore every option at quarterback through free agency, the trade market, and the draft.
The Jets have the flexibility to act. According to Over The Cap, New York has more than $74 million in salary cap space, the sixth-most in the NFL. The team holds two first-round picks in the upcoming draft: the No. 2 overall pick earned after the 3–14 season and the No. 16 pick acquired from the Indianapolis Colts in the midseason trade of Sauce Gardner.
The Jets also own two second-round selections, No. 33 and No. 44. The No. 44 pick was acquired from the Dallas Cowboys in the Quinnen Williams trade.
Pending Roster Decisions and Coaching Changes
Several roster questions remain unresolved. Running back Breece Hall is scheduled to become a free agent after recording the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his four-year career. Hall was involved in trade rumors during the season and represents the Jets’ most prominent potential free-agent loss.
Mougey met with Hall as part of meetings with roughly 50 players and described him as a good player the team would like to keep, while declining to discuss the possibility of using the franchise or transition tag.
On the coaching side, the Jets will search for a new defensive coordinator after Wilks’ dismissal. Chris Harris served as interim coordinator, and Glenn said the team will evaluate multiple candidates while seeking a strong working relationship with the next hire.
Glenn also addressed expectations from ownership, saying there is always urgency to win and that owner Woody Johnson shares that mindset.
