For New York Jets fans who don't believe head coach Aaron Glenn can redirect the club from its losing ways, defensive tackle Harrison Phillips has spoken bluntly to the contrary.
Phillips was unflinching during multiple interviews this week in his indictment of the Gang Green culture inherited by the rookie head coach and made it clear that he is an Aaron Glenn guy.
"I think A.G. inherited a very cancerous, truculent group -- whole, top to bottom -- and it almost wasn't, it's not individual people's fault," Phillips told Roundtable Sports when asked why fans should still trust Glenn is the right coach for the franchise.
"I was there for one season and it was a very difficult season. And I almost wanted to waver on some of my thoughts and my beliefs and my optimism. And so I can't imagine being there for year after year after year and not seeing the results that you wanted. It tainted people."
As is the norm for Radio Row, players tackle a plethora of interviews often featuring the same questions. Such was the case with Phillips' stand-up interview for Roundtable Sports and a sit-down session The Jake Asman Show.
Phillips didn't offer the same headline-snatching sound about a cancerous culture, but went into detail that Glenn -- or any head coach -- has more to deal with than Xs and Os. And when it comes to shifting the tides of club that hasn't been to the playoffs since the 2010 season, it's a whole different world.
"What comes with head coaches is a lot more than coaching football," he said. "You have to deal with a ton of things that a casual fan, a normal fan, even players don't know all the things head coaches deal with. And I think that when you take the job with the Jets and you understand the culture that you're up against and the 'I've gotta protect myself' ideology that's in players, you want someone like A.G., who is consistent and is tough and is disciplined and has a standard. His consistency never wavered."
Simply stated, Phillips' message is that losing breeds more losing, and he supports Glenn because he believes the head coach has the approach and demeanor to truly change the outlook of a franchise that's now suffered through 10 consecutive losing campaigns.
A veteran defensive tackle who was traded to the Jets from the Minnesota Vikings just before the start the season, Phillips has played just one year with New York and under Glenn. He posted 60 tackles in 17 starts during a 3-14 season.
During four years with the Buffalo Bills and then three with the Vikings, Phillips' worst season with a 6-10 rookie campaign. He's been to the playoffs five times.
"This season was trying for me," he said. "To start 0-7 and only win three football games was very difficult."
So, as Phillips defends Glenn, he still understands and empathizes with the players who are unfortunately used to the struggles.
"Other players have gone through this for season after season after season," he said. "That can really bias you, and you say, 'I have to go get mine because this coach is going to get fired, and that means a new coach is going to come in and that means I'm going to get fired and I'm going to get cut and traded and new staff and new people,' so you start to protect your own. And when a rookie comes into an organization and the vets are just showing him that's how we do it here, it can really taint your optimism towards an organization.
"It's changing. We're getting some great people who understand what winning looks like, understand what sacrifice looks like, understand what championship looks like. And like I said, I believe in it."
Free agency lies ahead in March and then the 2026 NFL Draft, with the Jets claiming the No. 2 and No. 16 overall picks. However, it's already been a busy offseason, with Frank Reich added as offensive coordinator and Brian Duker as defensive coordinator.
Through a season that featured far more downs than ups, Phillips lauded Glenn's consistency through the storm. That reliability is among the main reasons Phillips wholeheartedly believes his head coach is the right man for the Jets job.
"I think that consistency, as well as making the jump from Year 1 to Year 2 as a head football coach," Phillips told Roundtable Sports. "More of his people in the building, more of his thumb print on the culture. I think we have to win more games."
