ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Welcome to the offseason, where Jets fans thrive each year.
While the Jets have missed the playoffs for 15 consecutive years, the offseason has consistently given Gang Green fans hope. With over $90 million in projected money to spend this offseason, the Jets will look to shore up several holes following a 3-14 season in coach Aaron Glenn’s first season.
With the 2025 season over, let’s preview a Jets offseason full of questions.
Defensive coordinator and other possible changes to the staff
Glenn is expected to return for his second season with the Jets. But they could make several changes to his staff.
First on Glenn’s agenda is finding a defensive coordinator after he fired Steve Wilks on Dec. 15 following a 48-20 loss to the Jaguars. The Jets defense plummeted from a top-five defense in yards allowed to one of the worst units in the NFL.
Chris Harris served as the Jets’ defensive coordinator for their final four games, but the results were similar. Wink Martindale, who has served as the defensive coordinator for the Broncos, Ravens, and Giants, could be a potential replacement. He was Michigan’s defensive coordinator last season. But after coach Sherrone Moore was fired and Kyle Whittingham was named the Wolverines’ new coach, Martindale will be a hot commodity in NFL circles.
Other names mentioned include Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Broncos defensive pass game coordinator and assistant coach Jim Leonhard, who also played three seasons with the Jets (2009-11). Jets defensive line coach Eric Washington’s job could also be in jeopardy after the team finished next-to-last in sacks.
Staff changes may not be exclusive to just the defensive side of the ball. The Jets could change some of their offensive staff, including Charles London, who is their quarterback coach. London’s expertise is primarily working with running backs.
Finding a franchise QB and a bridge
After evaluating the staff, Glenn and the Jets brass will head to Indianapolis for the NFL Combine in hopes of finding their next franchise quarterback. The two top quarterbacks on the draft board could be Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore. Mendoza is widely considered the top quarterback available in April’s draft, but the Raiders will have the No. 1 pick and could decide to draft a quarterback.
Moore’s draft stock has risen this year in his first season starting at Oregon. He has the best athletic build and the most upside of any quarterback who could be available in April’s draft.
What makes Moore special is his ability to extend plays with his legs inside and outside the pocket. He can also make any throw on the field with his accuracy, arm talent and passing velocity. In 14 games this season, Moore has thrown 3,280 yards, 28 touchdowns, and nine interceptions for the Ducks.
Mendoza and Moore will meet in the Fiesta Bowl on Friday night, which is one of the College Football semifinals.
In addition, the Jets will likely need a bridge quarterback to start games until the rookie is ready to play. Names that the Jets could be interested in include Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett, Commanders’ Marcus Mariota and Falcons’ Kirk Cousins.
Releasing Justin Fields
The Jets will almost certainly have a new starting quarterback in 2026. That means the likely, brief end of the Justin Fields era.
Gang Green signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract last March, hoping he could be the next player to revive his career with a different team after stops in Chicago and Pittsburgh. But the Fields signing turned out to be a bust, as he was benched after nine starts in which he led the Jets to the league’s worst passing offense.
Fields is scheduled to make $20 million in 2026, including $10 million guaranteed. If the Jets release Fields with a June 1 designation, they would save $10 million.
Fields just wasn’t a great fit with the Jets for a variety of reasons. One reason is his lack of accuracy and his willingness to throw the ball down the field. In nine games, Fields passed for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception.
Impending free agents
The Jets are scheduled to have 23 free agents this offseason. Among them are starters running back Breece Hall, guard John Simpson, linebacker Quincy Williams, safeties Andre Cisco and Tony Adams.
The Jets kept Hall after the trade deadline despite dealing Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. Now they have to find a way to keep him long-term. With a rookie quarterback likely to come in, the Jets must keep Hall, who is a major foundation of their offensive identity.
The Jets also have the franchise tag available if they need to place it on Hall. However, the franchise tag tender is expected to be around $14.1 million for running backs.
Tons of draft capital
The Jets will have two first-round picks after trading Gardner and two second-round picks after the Williams trade. They will have eight picks in total, and that doesn’t even include the compensatory picks, which the Jets are projected to receive two of them, both in the fifth round, according to Over the Cap.
