Jul 25, 2025; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn speaks to the media during training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was caught sleeping on live television during an NFL Network broadcast of the 2026 Scouting Combine on Thursday afternoon.
The viral incident occurred at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis while cameras panned to the team’s suite during an evaluation period for defensive linemen and linebackers. Glenn appeared to be sound asleep for several seconds with his eyes closed and his right fist pressed against his face, while host Rich Eisen commented that he was “looking on”.
The optics of the nap were particularly damaging as the second-year head coach had announced only days prior that he would reclaim defensive play-calling duties for 2026. During that Tuesday session, Glenn referred to play-calling as his “superpower,” citing his four years of tenure with the Detroit Lions.
“To me, play calling is my superpower, really,” Glenn said. “Doing it for four years in Detroit, and just look at the maturation of those four years of how we improved every year, and how I improved as a play caller. I really miss doing that.”
Pat McAfee Show co-host Connor Campbell wrote on X that seeing yourself sleeping on TV when you should be awake is one of the “top 5 worst wake ups ever”.
Seeing yourself ON TV sleeping when you shouldn’t be sleeping after waking up has to be Top 5 worst wake ups ever
The Jets pic.twitter.com/v9lirtuRxp
— Football (@BostonConnr) February 26, 2026 Awful Announcing later posted on Instagram that someone likely alerted Glenn that he was asleep on a broadcast featuring prospects: Duke’s Vincent Anthony Jr. and Penn State’s Zane Durant.
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Aaron Glenn’s Green and White finished a dismal season The Green and White finished a dismal 2025 regular season with a 3-14 record following a 35-8 loss to the Buffalo Bills. That finish, impacted by a .552 strength of schedule tiebreaker, secured the No. 2 overall pick for a roster that ranked in the bottom five of the league for points allowed.
The Jets’ defense surrendered 29.6 points per game last year, a figure General Manager Darren Mougey hopes to rebuild with three of the first 35 selections in the upcoming draft.
The Jets also hold the No. 16 overall pick for the April 23 event in Pittsburgh following a franchise-altering trade with the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 4. In that mid-season ‘white flag’ move, the Jets sent All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts in exchange for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and two first-round assets.
Mougey will now oversee the 91st annual draft at Pittsburgh’s North Shore.
The team is currently transitioning to a 3-4 defensive scheme under Glenn and recently traded defensive end Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat.
The Jets are targeting elite edge prospects such as Arvell Reese or Rueben Bain Jr. with their premium picks.
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