Jets head coach Aaron Glenn held the league in suspense all week, refusing to publicly confirm whether Justin Fields or Tyrod Taylor would start at quarterback against the Cleveland Browns — a move that drew as much intrigue as criticism. Glenn repeatedly declined to answer, telling reporters, “You know I’m not going to give you that answer,” and insisted that the decision would be “between me and the player.”
That cloak‑and‑dagger approach wasn’t a one‑off. Glenn has maintained this level of secrecy before: against the Bengals, he concealed his quarterback choice, citing “competitive advantage” as the reason for withholding public confirmation Even when pressed about whether that secrecy could hurt the confidence of his signal-callers, he pushed back. He argued that as long as he and the chosen player know who will start, that’s all that matters — he doesn’t owe the media anything.
Glenn’s reasoning seems to derive from a mix of strategy and control. Quietly confirming the starter only internally, he preserves leverage and prevents opponents from preparing differently. As he put it, he wasn’t shirking; he had “his own reasons.” His reticence has become a part of his coaching identity: this is how he operates, and by his account, his players understand and respect it.
On the field, though, the debate over the right quarterback has been anything but hypothetical. Fields was signed to a two-year, $40 million deal in the offseason, but his performance has been inconsistent. Through seven starts he has completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,089 yards and five touchdowns, with zero interceptions — but he’s also been sacked 22 times. After a particularly rough outing in London, where he was sacked nine times, Glenn acknowledged that Fields “took a step back.” (NFL.com) Yet Glenn demurred when asked if that would trigger a benching. “I don’t think you just try to bench a player after having one true bad game,” he insisted, pointing to Fields’ earlier performances in the season.
On the flip side, Tyrod Taylor has offered a veteran presence, but his availability and performance have been erratic. He filled in in earlier games, but has battled a knee injury, which has muddied the waters on when he could realistically take over. (NFL.com)
Glenn’s decision not to lift the veil on his quarterback plan isn’t just about keeping reporters at bay; he claims it’s also about preserving competitive integrity. By not announcing the starter ahead of time, he limits what the opposing defense can prepare for. (NFL.com) Some coaches do similar things, but in New York — where scrutiny is magnified and patience is thin — the gambit feels especially risky.
Still, there have been glimmers of support for Fields inside the organization. After the Jets’ first win of the season — a wild, 39-38 comeback over Cincinnati — Glenn expressed pride in Fields’ resilience. (NFL.com) He praised what Fields did in that game while also noting the offense still has “things we need to clean up.” (SI) That balance — public praise with private decision‑making — seems to define Glenn’s management style.
Ultimately, though, Glenn didn’t keep his secret forever. On the eve of the Browns game, word broke that the Jets were expected to stick with Justin Fields as their starter. That suggests, despite the wobble, Glenn trusts Fields enough to give him another shot — and is not yet ready to turn to Taylor as a long-term solution.
Glenn’s handling of the quarterback situation is polarizing. On one hand, his secrecy can be seen as a shrewd tactical maneuver: keeping opponents guessing, managing internal dynamics, and preserving his own authority. On the other hand, it’s bred frustration and raised questions about transparency, leadership, and how much credit or blame Fields is really getting for his performances.
From the locker room perspective, it’s unclear whether the players are unsettled by the public ambiguity. Glenn says his conversations with his quarterbacks happen behind closed doors — and that’s where it matters most to him) For Fields, the pressure is undeniable: he’s had flashes of promise, but his floor has been shaky, and his protection has been inconsistent.
Glenn’s decision to maintain Fields as starter for now reflects a deeper belief in building through instability rather than pivoting at the first sign of trouble. He’s not buying into the short-term narrative that one bad game means it’s time to move on — at least not yet. But by keeping the decision-making close, he’s also signaling he’s not swayed by outside noise, whether it’s from critics, fans, or even the media.
In sticking with Fields, the Jets are casting their lot with a quarterback who remains volatile but has upside. Glenn’s secretive posture may frustrate outsiders, but it gives him flexibility to pivot if things go wrong. Whether that gamble pays off will likely shape not just his season, but how people view his leadership.
If Glenn is right, his discretion could be justified: Fields might stabilize, the offense could grow, and the quiet approach could turn into a competitive asset. If he’s wrong, though, the secrecy may be exposed as an illusion — and the decision to withhold could make the failure even more visible.
Either way, the decision has been made: for now, Fields is under center for the Browns. The question is whether he’ll do enough to make Glenn’s secret worthwhile — or whether Glenn’s next secret will be about how long he thinks Fields can hold the job.
