New York Jets fans will learn everything about Aaron Glenn in 2026

New York Jets fans knew who they would play well before the 2026 schedule was announced. The NFL rotates its schedule so that things stay pretty basic for every team.

In the case of the Jets, their 2026 opponents included six AFC East games, matchups against the AFC West and NFC North, and three teams that finished last in the 2025 season. This was already well established, and there was nothing the Jets could do to change that.

Somehow, the NFL schedule made that reality even more daunting, though.

From a stretch against three All-Pro caliber quarterbacks, to being on the road for three of the first four games of the season — featuring three straight against the tough NFC North — the league did the Jets no favors despite their struggles from the previous year.

At the very least, it sets things up in a revealing way for head coach Aaron Glenn.

Jets’ 2026 schedule

First, a look at the schedule:

• Week 1: Sept 13: at Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 2: Sept 20: vs. Packers, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 3: Sept 27: at Lions, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 4: Oct 4: at Bears, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 5: Oct 11: vs. Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 6: Oct 18: at Pats, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 7: Oct 25: vs. Dolphins, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 8: Nov 1: vs. Raiders, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 9: Nov 8: at Chiefs, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 10: Nov 15: vs. Bills, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 11: Nov 22: at Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 12: Nov 29: at Dolphins, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 13: BYE
• Week 14: Dec 13: vs. Broncos, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 15: Dec 20: at Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 16: Dec 27: vs. Patriots, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 17: Jan 3: vs. Vikings, 1:00 p.m ET, CBS
• Week 18: at Bills

The Jets’ slate isn’t exactly worthy of a schedule for a team coming off just three wins the prior season.

This season, New York faces eight playoff teams from the year prior. That number doesn’t appear too uncommon, right?

That holds true, aside from the fact that the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs are thrown into the mix — two teams that were the top seeds in their respective conference two years ago. In short, it’s clear that not all non-playoff teams are made equal at this point.

While their travel isn’t exactly an albatross, they do have multiple trips out west this year against quality opponents.

New York’s schedule leaves plenty to be desired, and it’s going to put an even bigger target on their head coach.

Aaron Glenn’s rise or demise?

Right or wrong, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is on the hot seat this season. He needs his team to play better across the board and put the roster in a better position to succeed.

If not, he’ll be on the unemployment line, and the Jets will be searching for another coach.

The schedule doesn’t exactly help Glenn, either.

The first four games of the campaign place the Jets in situations where they showcase the perceived lesser head coach. Matt LaFleur, Dan Campbell, Ben Johnson, and even Robert Saleh (according to some) are believed to hold the advantage.

Even if New York is able to weather the storm early on, they have a three-game stretch during the middle portion of the season where they must play Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Justin Herbert in three straight weeks.

It doesn’t matter what Glenn’s “superpower” is; even the most elite defensive minds in football are going to struggle in that stretch.

New York and its fans are going to learn a lot about their second-year head coach. If there’s a good coach inside Glenn, it will have no choice but to come out this season as the Jets try to handle their gauntlet of a schedule.

Should the New York Jets fail in that goal, it appears Aaron Glenn’s time as the organization’s leader will be quite short-lived.