Jets fans have been trained to fear one thing above all else. That a coaching staff will somehow ruin the next young quarterback. It’s an understandable anxiety given the last two decades. But it’s also a misunderstanding of how quarterbacks are actually developed in the NFL. History shows, again and again, that quarterbacks are shaped far more by their environment than by the reputation of their coaches. Coaching matters but it is not the primary factor that determines whether a young QB survives his first few seasons.

There is no secret technique that a coach teaches which permanently damages a quarterback. Footwork can be adjusted. Reads change with every system. Aggressiveness and conservatism are driven by game script, not philosophy. If bad coaching truly ruined quarterbacks, we would see the same mechanical or mental failures replicated across multiple QBs under the same staff. That simply doesn’t happen. What does happen consistently is this. Quarterbacks behind bad offensive lines, without reliable weapons, develop panic habits. They speed up their internal clock, bail from clean pockets, abandon progressions, and play hero ball. That isn’t coaching failure it’s survival.

Over the last 30 years, the pattern is remarkably consistent. Rookie quarterbacks who entered the league with a top-20 offensive line and at least functional skill support either a 900-yard-level receiver plus a productive running back, or two legitimate receivers almost universally reached the playoffs within their first three seasons as starters. Coaching reputation didn’t matter. Some of those coaches were later fired. Some were considered average at best. The environment created a stable floor for development. The only consistent exceptions were truly generational outliers who succeeded despite chaos, or quarterbacks whose early growth years were derailed by major injury.

That’s why the Jets’ focus should not be on fearing Aaron Glenn as some existential developmental risk. Glenn may or may not become a great head coach, but history strongly suggests he is not capable of ruining a quarterback who is properly supported. If the Jets fail their next QB, it won’t be because of terminology or drills. It will be because they once again asked a young passer to function without protection, balance, or answers.

The real path forward is obvious. Solidify the offensive line not with patchwork optimism, but with real, dependable talent. Bring back Breece Hall, who stabilizes game script and keeps defenses honest. Add a true No. 2 wide receiver who wins on time and gives the quarterback a reliable outlet. Quarterbacks don’t need miracles to develop. They need competence. Keeping Aaron Glenn isn’t the gamble. Failing to finally build a functional offensive environment is.