The New York Jets’ defense underAaron Glenn gets talked about for one stat above all else. They posted zero interceptions recorded during the entire 2025 season.

That was a historically bad number, and it obviously needs to change in 2026. But when the Jets’ new DT T’Vondre Sweat, acquired from the Tennessee Titans in the Jermaine Johnson trade, spoke about the potential of the Jets’ defensive front, his answer pointed toward something worth examining more closely.

“I feel like the potential of the group is going to be great,” Sweat said. “You’ve got great run stoppers. That’s what we preach on, is stopping the run. I feel like we’ve got a great group of guys for that.”

That’s a confident statement. When you look at the pieces New York has assembled up front, it’s hard to argue with the optimism. 

The Jets have overhauled their defensive front

Besides Sweat, the Jets brought in David Onyemata, Kingsley Enagbare, and Joseph Ossai in free agency. They also drafted David Bailey with the 2nd pick and Darrell Jackson Jr. out of Florida State in the 4th round. That’s a serious influx of talent along the defensive line. It speaks to what Glenn and the front office identified as a priority.

Now, here’s the important context. Last year, the Jets were rushed on more than any team in the league. They faced 539 rushing attempts and, in turn, allowed the 5th most rushing yards in the NFL, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. That per-carry average was closer to the middle of the road in the league. However, the sheer volume of carries against them inflated the total yardage given up in a big way.

You might look at those numbers and think Aaron Glenn is the problem. He was brought in as head coach and defensive play-caller, and the Jets allowed the 5th most rushing yards in the league. That’s bad, right? Well, looking at recent history, this isn’t really an Aaron Glenn issue, but it still falls partially on his shoulders for 2026. 

The real problem is on the other side of the ball

Look at Glenn’s track record in Detroit. In 2024, when he was the Lions’ defensive coordinator, Detroit ranked 5th best in rushing yards allowed, faced the fewest carries in the league, and still gave up about 4.5 yards per carry. In 2023, the Lions allowed the 2nd fewest rushing yards in the NFL, had the 3rd fewest attempts against them, and posted an elite 3.7 yards-per-carry mark. 

Here’s what those numbers tell me. When Glenn worked alongside a competent offense in Detroit that could sustain drives and win the time-of-possession battle, opposing offenses simply weren’t on the field as much. Fewer possessions meant fewer carries, which meant fewer rushing yards. The defense benefited directly from the offense doing its job.

With the Jets last year, the offense couldn’t sustain a drive to save its life. It put them 31st in time of possession. That put the defense back on the field constantly, which is exactly why New York faced the most rushing attempts in the league in 2025. It’s also why they gave up one of the highest rushing yardage totals.

I am optimistic about the addition of Sweat. He is a massive run stopper, which fills a void that the Jets didn’t have in Glenn’s initial campaign. Guys like Bailey, Enagbare, and Ossai are going to help bolster that front as well. But the players on defense can only do so much. The Jets offense under Frank Reich and QB Geno Smith, with playmakers like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, has to sustain drives and keep a solid time of possession this season. 

If New York wins that battle, the run defense will improve almost by default. If the offense stalls out the way it did in 2025, it won’t matter how many bodies the Jets throw at the defensive line. I think the talent is there for the defense to take a real step forward, but the offense may hold the key.