Jets players address reactions to Aaron Glenn's viral celebration dance in loss to Buccaneers

Ahead of the weekend, first-year New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn vowed that he was "going to always be me" after he received some criticism for the unique dance celebration that occurred late in what became his club's 29-27 Week 3 loss at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that dropped the Jets to 0-3 on the season. 

Ahead of New York's "Monday Night Football" game at the 0-3 Miami Dolphins, multiple Jets players defended Glenn regarding what occurred at Tampa Bay's Raymond James Stadium on the afternoon of Sept. 21. 

Jets players want Aaron Glenn excited after highlight-reel plays

"Is he not supposed to get happy and celebrate us making plays? I was turnt," Jets cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner said about Glenn's reaction to the blocked field goal that turned into a go-ahead scoop-and-score with under two minutes remaining in the Tampa Bay game, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. "That’s what he brings — he brings that energy. We’re a young group, so it’s great to be able to see your head coach celebrating like he’s in it with you." 

Some have accused Glenn of spiking the figurative football too early and of acting like he's not "been there before," largely because his defense couldn't put the game away. Following the Jets' final touchdown of the contest, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield led a seven-play, 48-yard drive that ended with a walk-off field goal as time expired.  

"We just want to make sure when he does do it, we go finish the game so he doesn’t have to deal with the BS that comes with this," Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson said about Glenn's celebration.

Why Jets players want Aaron Glenn to be himself on the sidelines

According to ESPN stats, the Jets enter Monday night ranked 22nd in the NFL in yards allowed per game (340.3) and 29th in points allowed per contest (31). That's alarming considering the New York defense is supposed to be a strength for a team guided by a head coach who most recently built an impressive resume while serving as the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions. 

Nevertheless, Jets safety Malachi Moore made it clear he and his teammates don't need Glenn to be unemotional and overly calm on the sidelines during games. 

"Him being himself allows us to feel like we can be ourselves," Moore added about Glenn. "It allows us to go out there and play loose and play free, knowing we can be ourselves, knowing that it’s OK to feel how we feel and act how we act, however our personalities are — all while just making sure we’re working toward the same goal."

As of Monday morning, ESPN BET had the Jets as 2.5-point underdogs against the Dolphins. Glenn's players will look to give him multiple reasons to dance at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.