Back in 2014, Jay Gruden stood in front of a microphone and dismantled Robert Griffin III’s game with surgical bluntness. “Robert had some fundamental flaws. His footwork was below average… it was not even close to being good enough to what we expect,” Gruden said, justifying the decision to bench the former No. 2 overall pick. For the rookie head coach, performance, not pedigree, was the currency that mattered. Gruden wasn’t interested in protecting reputations back then, and that aspect hasn’t changed even today. Now, he’s in front of a mic again with Colt McCoy in tow, sounding alarms—this time aimed squarely at the 2025 New York Jets.

“Lower every offensive category. Garrett Wilson, lower. Justin Fields, lower. Breece Hall, lower. The wins total, lower. Whatever you guys want, play lower.” Jay Gruden’s takedown of the Jets hit like a cold front in July—unexpected, unfiltered, and impossible to ignore. He was following up on an already brutal prediction of “3-4 wins” for the Jets in 2025, on the Clean Pocket podcast. In one breath, he dismissed Aaron Glenn’s 2025 squad as an imitation of last year’s Lions, minus the bite. The message? Gang Green isn’t a contender.

“This team is Detroit Lions’ B team except for maybe Garrett Wilson,” Gruden added, his voice laced with disdain. It’s not only a put-down of the Jets, but also of Glenn’s strategy as the former Lions DC prepares for his first season in charge of New York. It’s a harsh read, especially for a team trying to turn the page with a fresh coaching staff, a young quarterback, and a new offensive identity. But the real question lingers: Is Gruden wrong?

At the center of this narrative is new OC Tanner Engstrand, who helped craft Detroit’s top-five scoring offense last season. The Jets hired him to bring that same misdirection-heavy, power-run approach to MetLife. And he’s got the pieces to try.

Breece Hall, still just 23 (until May 31), has racked up 2,333 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns in three seasons, despite running behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines. The Jets doubled down on the run game in April by drafting Armand Membou, a hulking 330-pound Missouri tackle who stunned scouts with a 4.91-second 40-yard dash and elite lateral agility for his size.

Engstrand’s plan: Build an offense from the trenches up, lean on play-action, and turn Justin Fields into a dual-threat headache. Fields brings 2,509 career rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns, showing signs of maturity under pressure.

However, Glenn is confident. “I’m a coach. I just happen to be on defense,” Aaron Glenn reminded reporters in January. “If you want to hire me, you’re hiring a leader.” Glenn’s tone already echoes Dan Campbell’s grit, defiance, and he is unafraid to build methodically. His defensive résumé is solid, but it’s the offensive gamble that will define Year 1.

Why the Jets’ rebuild is more Breaking Bad than Glenn’s B-Team blues

However, the host of Clean Pocket podcast, veteran lineman Justin Pugh, pushed back against Gruden’s dismissiveness: “You already picked the Dolphins to finish last in the AFC East. So…” But Gruden hit back with a simple “I changed my mind, I’m looking at the Jets.”

Garrett Wilson has been the only consistent bright spot in the Jets’ offense during a turbulent stretch. He’s one of just four wideouts to post three straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career, despite being saddled with a quarterback carousel featuring the likes of Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and Trevor Siemian. Then there’s rookie tight end Mason Taylor, an LSU product whose football IQ and route crispness have drawn early comparisons to Travis Kelce. That’s premature, sure—but the upside is hard to ignore.

Gruden couldn’t resist lobbing another jab: “They’re gonna bring in Mason Taylor… and him and Membou are just gonna annihilate people. God. Give me a break. This team’s last. This team’s horrible.” Skepticism is warranted. The Jets still have roster gaps, particularly at wide receiver depth, safety, and along the interior offensive line.

With $27.17 million in cap space, they aren’t broke, but they aren’t buying luxury pieces either. The 2025 Jets aren’t chasing trophies—they’re chasing credibility. Fields may not be Goff 2.0, but with better protection and Engstrand’s structured system, he could become a nightmare to scheme against. Breece Hall is a top-10 RB when healthy. And Sauce Gardner still smothers WR1s like a courtroom cross-examiner.

Stat check: Justin Fields’ 93.3 passer rating in 2024 hints at growth.

Aaron Glenn knows this won’t be easy. But his messaging from team meetings to post-draft interviews has been consistent: “Put your seatbelts on and get ready for the ride,” Glenn told the locker room in January. “We are the freaking New York Jets, and we’re built for this s—.” If this works, it won’t be because they mimicked Detroit—it’ll be because they used it as fuel.

And if it fails? Well, Jay Gruden already told you so.