NFL coaches rip Jets for handling of Justin Fields before benching

While speaking with reporters at the NFL’s annual fall meeting on Tuesday, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson seemed to slam the door shut on the club's Justin Fields era when he essentially blamed the quarterback for the team's 0-7 start to the season.

Backup Tyrod Taylor is expected to replace Fields atop the depth chart ahead of New York's game at the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) Sunday. ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler explained why some around the league believe the Jets failed Fields over the campaign's first seven weeks. 

What Jets got wrong with Justin Fields

Specifically, Fowler noted that he spoke with "multiple NFL coaches who believe the Jets should have leaned heavily into Fields' running ability" before first-year head coach Aaron Glenn benched the signal-caller during the club's 13-6 home loss to the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday. While Fields tallied a total of 12 rushing attempts in the Jets' Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he hasn't since gotten to double-digit carries in a single contest. 

"That's what he's most comfortable with," one assistant coach who previously worked with Fields told Fowler. "And then you can throw him off play-action with more success. I don't care if you use a high-school-style offense, but he needs to run."

Of course, play-calling isn't the only reason the Jets' offense has underperformed with Fields in the lineup. ESPN stats show he ranks 31st out of 33 qualified passers with a 31.8 adjusted QBR for the season. Per Pro Football Reference, he's 33rd in the NFL with an average of 140.8 passing yards per game. 

Why Jets aren't giving up on Aaron Glenn after seven games

As Andy Vasquez of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com pointed out, Glenn is the first coach in Jets history to begin his tenure with seven consecutive losses. Nevertheless, Johnson insisted on Tuesday that he's still confident Glenn can be part of the solution for a Jets team in need of a turnaround. 

For Wednesday's article, Fowler expanded on Johnson's mindset. 

"The Jets did an exhaustive coaching search that landed on Glenn, one of the most sought-after candidates in the 2025 cycle," Fowler added. "It hasn't worked thus far, and he has had his share of miscues. But the Jets have remained competitive despite their struggles at quarterback. Five of their seven losses are by a combined 19 points, and the defense appears to be on the upswing after a slow start."

That's all well and good, but Glenn could be in danger of losing the locker room if the Jets remain winless through the end of October. For what it's worth, ESPN BET had the Jets as 6.5-point road underdogs against the Bengals on Wednesday.