Jets HC Aaron Glenn changes tune after calling out team for lack of effort after embarrassing 42-10 blowout to Patriots

After reviewing the game tape, Aaron Glenn softened his stance on his team's performance on Sunday. In his postgame press conference, the New York Jets coach was harshly critical of his team’s lackluster effort in a humiliating 42-10 blowout loss to the New England Patriots.

However, after pointing out that the Week 17 loss was the first time effort had genuinely been an issue, he walked those comments back on Monday. In his media availability, the coach noted that his team was only unable to match the Patriots in a couple of things they did tactically.

“Getting a chance to look at it last night and look at it again this morning, I will say this: Effort was not the issue with that game,” Glenn said on Monday. "I thought our guys played all the way to the very end. “What really showed up is they did some things schematically, I thought, that was challenging offensively and defensively, that we really have to take a look at and try to hone in on and fix those things. And I would say that some of their players just made plays.”

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Aaron Glenn's first season with the Jets has been a disappointing one, as the team ranks among the worst in the league with a 3-13 record. The latest loss to the Patriots further highlights the team’s struggle. Nonetheless, the belief internally is that the team is in its rebuilding phase.

Aaron Glenn points out to things his players did well in the game

Speaking further in his media availability on Monday, Aaron Glenn pointed out a couple of things his players did well in the game despite the blowout loss. He used this in making it further clarify that the players had no fault in the loss to the Patriots.

“Even when it got to a point where all they were trying to do was run the ball, our guys didn’t back down from that at all,” Glenn said. "And I would say that most of the time when that happens, that’s when you have an effort issue. You saw our guys, they were running on and off the field the whole time. Man, it was nothing about them that they were throwing up the white flag and they were quitting. So, to me, that’s the one thing that I really wanted to look at and see how that was. Again, schematically were there some things that were challenging? Absolutely. But again, our guys did not quit.”

While Aaron Glenn may have somewhat softened his stance on the players’ effort in the game, his words have rechanneled the blame. By shifting focus to schemes and play-calling, he effectively spreads some of the responsibility onto himself and his coaching staff.

Edited by Farouk Yusuf