The New York Jets appear to be moving in the right direction this offseason, six months ahead of their next meaningful game. Their most notable moves include hiring Aaron Glenn, a former Jets player and a disciple of Bill Parcells, as their new head coach. Additionally, they signed Justin Fields as their quarterback, signaling a potential shift away from their past struggles with acquiring a franchise quarterback.
Perhaps the biggest positive for the Jets right now is that they are not in the same disorganized state as their city rivals, the New York Giants. While it remains uncertain whether Glenn will finally bring long-term stability to the franchise, his work as the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator last season—where he managed to maintain defensive success despite numerous injuries—suggests he could be the right person for the job. Similarly, new general manager Darren Mougey is a relatively unknown figure, but he comes highly recommended by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, another Parcells protégé.
The most crucial decisions made by Glenn and Mougey so far involve their handling of the quarterback situation. They moved on from Aaron Rodgers and instead brought in Fields, a 26-year-old quarterback with significant potential. Unlike previous quarterback acquisitions, Fields is not being treated as a savior but rather as a talented player who will have an offensive system built around his strengths.
While optimism is growing within the Jets organization, caution is necessary given that Woody Johnson remains the owner. However, at least for now, the Jets appear to be operating without the dysfunction that has plagued them in past years.
In stark contrast, the Giants find themselves in a difficult quarterback situation. They are reportedly considering veteran options such as Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, and Russell Wilson—quarterbacks aged 41, 40, and 37, respectively. The Giants’ struggles last season were largely due to poor quarterback play from Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle. Given their No. 3 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Giants could pursue a young quarterback such as Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. However, if they do not believe either is the right choice, they may be stuck in a year where the available talent does not align with their needs.
The Jets are familiar with this dilemma, having used the No. 3 pick in a past draft on Sam Darnold after the Giants selected Saquon Barkley. Darnold, who revived his career in Minnesota, is now being viewed as a top-tier quarterback by the Seattle Seahawks. The Jets followed their selection of Darnold by picking Zach Wilson with the No. 2 pick in another draft, a decision that proved disastrous. This led them to acquire Rodgers, much like the team had once pursued Brett Favre under Tannenbaum’s leadership.
Now, Rodgers is being considered by the Giants, while Wilson and Flacco are also in the mix. Together, these quarterbacks have three Super Bowl rings and a significant number of career accolades, but they also have a combined age of 117.
Unlike their past decisions, the Jets opted for a different approach by signing Fields on a reasonable two-year contract. While he may not be the next Jalen Hurts, Fields is young and has considerable talent. If the Jets provide him with the right supporting cast and coaching, he has the potential to become one of the most dynamic quarterbacks the franchise has ever had.
The Bears decided to move on from Fields, and last season, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin also benched him in favor of Russell Wilson. Fields had been stuck in a weak offensive system in Chicago and was merely a temporary solution in Pittsburgh. There is uncertainty regarding how he would have performed had he been given a greater opportunity with the Steelers.
With the right development, Fields could lead the Jets to their best season since Todd Bowles coached the team and Ryan Fitzpatrick was the quarterback. Despite finishing 5-12 last season, the Jets remained competitive in many games, often staying close until the fourth quarter. Their roster has talent, but last year’s reliance on Rodgers, who at 41 struggled with mobility, ultimately set them back.
While past history suggests things could still go wrong for the Jets, they now have a coach with a Parcells-style background and a general manager recommended by a former successful Jets executive. At least for now, this version of the Jets looks different from the struggling franchise they have been in recent years—and certainly different from the current state of the Giants.
Beyond football, the New York Knicks have encountered some internal confusion. Reports indicated that Mikal Bridges and head coach Tom Thibodeau had a discussion about adjusting playing time for starters and bench players, but Thibodeau later denied that the conversation ever took place. If it truly never happened, it raises the question of why Bridges would claim otherwise.
As the Knicks hold the fourth-best record in the NBA, their main challenge remains overcoming teams with superior records. The real story isn’t the disagreement between Bridges and Thibodeau but rather the Knicks’ need to prove they can advance beyond the second round of the playoffs. If they fail, Thibodeau could become a subject of scrutiny despite his role in revitalizing the franchise.
Meanwhile, the Yankees face a critical decision regarding their young players. With Gerrit Cole sidelined for the season, it presents an opportunity for younger prospects to step up. The Yankees must determine whether they are truly committed to giving their emerging talent a fair chance.
Elsewhere, the New York Rangers find themselves in yet another situation where their season appears to be on the brink, raising concerns about their ability to sustain success.
In college basketball, Richard Pitino is expected to receive interest from larger programs beyond New Mexico as coaching vacancies arise.
Lastly, the sports journalism industry lost a respected writer with the passing of John Feinstein at age 69. Feinstein was a highly accomplished author, best known for his book Season on the Brink about Bob Knight. He was also a key contributor to The Sports Reporters and provided commentary for The Golf Channel. His final column, about Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, was published on the same day he passed away, marking a fitting final tribute to his long career as a journalist.