Why Aaron Glenn remains optimistic despite Jets' woeful record

The New York Jets' 23-10 loss at the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday dropped the Jets to 2-9 on the campaign and guaranteed that the club will endure a 10th straight losing season.

Nevertheless, first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn remains optimistic regarding what he could accomplish with the franchise. 

Aaron Glenn insists Jets are building solid foundation despite record

"Everybody wants to win now," Glenn explained while speaking with reporters on Monday, per Antwan Staley of the New York Daily News. "But you can’t lose sight of what you’re trying to build. Listen, you can easily just go get a bunch of players from outside and bring them in and, man, you might win just off talent alone, and you’re not going to win a lot of games by doing that, but you’ll win some games by doing that. But it’s the foundation of what you’re doing that really sets who you are and what you’re trying to build."

Shortly after the Jets acquired future draft assets for star cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams ahead of the November trade deadline, Glenn vowed that Gang Green will eventually "be a team that the fans are proud of." To make good on that promise, he and general manager Darren Mougey will need to find an upgrade at quarterback during the upcoming offseason following the benching of Justin Fields. 

"We’re trying to build things the right way to make sure that we sustain the winning that we’re going to do once this thing gets to where it’s going to get to," Glenn continued. "It’s tough. It is, it is, but we also have a forward-thinking mentality as far as, man, here’s where we’re trying to go, and we have a vision of where we’re trying to go, and we try not to lose sight of that." 

Aaron Glenn not losing the locker room amid frustrating results

The Jets will soon extend what is already the longest active postseason drought across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS. That said, it seems like Glenn's players aren't thinking about their winter vacations ahead of Thanksgiving. 

"I have so much respect for him and the way he's handled everything and his leadership and leadership style," Jets center Josh Myers said about Glenn, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday. "It's a good culture that he's instilling. I think positive things are coming for sure." 

The Jets next host the Atlanta Falcons (4-7) this coming Sunday. As of Tuesday morning, ESPN BET had New York as a 2.5-point underdog for that contest. Jets defensive tackle Harrison Phillips suggested he and others in the locker room will give it their all at MetLife Stadium to close the holiday weekend out. 

"He deserves to win," Phillips added about Glenn. "And I believe he will."