FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Darren Mougey showed no hesitation when asked how quickly the New York Jets can rebound from one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
“I believe we can be competitive and respectable right away, next year," the general manager said Tuesday, two days after the Jets finished 3-14 and left their frustrated fanbase wondering if they'll be rooting for a winning team anytime soon.
Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn met with reporters in their season wrapup news conference, looking to improve on shortcomings and learn from mistakes in their first year on the job.
“I’m excited about the offseason as we go into it,” Mougey said. “Obviously, the draft capital we have, the cap space and just being here now a year with AG, working with AG, the staff, getting to learn the staff, getting to learn the players, getting to learn this division — I feel more confident today than ever moving forward with what we have going.”
That might seem a tough sell to some who watched the Jets lose their last five games by being outscored 188-46 to put an ugly capper on a 15th straight year without a playoff appearance.
Overall, there were plenty of mistakes, including the ill-fated decision to have Justin Fields be the starting quarterback to hiring the since-fired Steve Wilks as the defensive coordinator. And there was a lot in-between, including injuries, inconsistencies and questionable calls.
Glenn refused to blame the season on anything or anyone but himself, saying he needs to do a better job.
“Listen, we’re frustrated about this season,” Glenn said. “I know the players are frustrated about it also. But there’s also faith that comes with that. And that’s the fact we went through this whole year to be able to learn a ton about ourselves, about the roster, about how we can get better. And I have total confidence in that and I want the fans to have total confidence in that also.”
Glenn, who completed his first season as a head coach after four as Detroit's defensive coordinator, insists being “educated” over the last year on what it takes to be successful in his position, and for Mougey in his, will benefit them — and the team — moving forward. He added that there are “a number of things” he'll improve on in his second year.
“So for our fans, listen, again, there’s a vision that we have,” Glenn said. "And there’s a trust that we have in that also. And I expect and I will want our fans to have a total trust in us in being able to do that. And we have to earn that too, and our plan is to do that.
“And we don’t expect to have another season like this here.”
Otherwise, of course, there might be new people in place trying to complete the rebuild.
“There’s always a sense of urgency,” Glenn said when asked if there's added pressure to prove to ownership he's the right coach. “It doesn’t matter what the record is because winning is a sense of urgency in itself and that’s what the plan is, is to win. We all know Woody and we all know he wants to win, just like we do. So yes, there is a sense of urgency from that.”
There's an assumption that Fields, who started just nine games before being benched and then ending the season on injured reserve with a knee injury, won't be back despite a year left on his deal with New York.
Glenn would only say: “Justin is under contract,” while adding that rookie Brady Cook, who started the final four games, is also signed for next season.
It would seem likely the Jets will explore taking a quarterback in the first round since they have the No. 2 pick, but adding a veteran through free agency is also in play.
“I can tell you this: We will exhaust every option,” Mougey said.
Running back Breece Hall is scheduled to be a free agent coming off the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his four-year career. Hall was the subject of trade rumors this season and will be the Jets' highest-profile player who can leave in free agency.
“Breece is a good player,” Mougey said. “I want as many good players back as we can. I met with probably 50 players yesterday. I met with Breece yesterday, had a lot of good conversations. So, we’ll go through this process and we’ll see how free agency unfolds, but we want to add good players.”
Mougey declined to go into hypotheticals when asked if using the franchise or transition tags on Hall would be a possibility.
Glenn and Mougey will evaluate the roster and coaching staff over the next few days. One position Glenn has to address is his defensive coordinator.
Chris Harris was the interim in place of Wilks, but Glenn said there are “a number of coaches we’ll look at” for the vacancy. Glenn said he hired Wilks because of his experience as a former head coach and because he ran the same defense the Jets wanted to have.
Glenn acknowledged it didn't work out, and said he wants “a lot of synergy” between him and the next defensive coordinator.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
FILE - New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall, File)
FILE - New York Jets co-owner Woody Johnson speaks with General Manager Darren Mougey, from left, before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Nov. 30, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two-time defending champion Amber Glenn set the record for a women's short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Wednesday night, giving her a narrow lead over world champion Alysa Liu heading into the free skate.
Liu had broken the record mere minutes earlier with a score of 81.11 points, earning a standing ovation from a crowd packed into the home of the St. Louis Blues. But then Glenn took the ice and was flawless from an opening triple axel to a finishing combination spin, earning 83.05 points, a hug from coach Damon Allen and a standing ovation of her own.
“I knew that I came here to do my job,” Glenn said, “and I was happy to see that scores were up, scores were good, and I was able to keep them going up. I felt a responsibility to keep it going better and better and better.”
Glenn wound up being the best.
Isabeau Levito was third with 75.72 points on the opening night of the national championships, which are the last opportunity for skaters to impress the U.S. Figure Skating officials who will decide the team for the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday.
The dance competition gets started Thursday night alongside the men's short program.
The 26-year-old Glenn, who four years ago missed nationals and a shot at the Beijing Games because of COVID-19, channeled her trademark power and emotion into a program set to “Like A Prayer” by Madonna. Glenn followed her axel with a triple flip-triple toe loop, and her triple loop merely catapulted her into a rollicking finish to an energetic program.
Allen was waiting for her rinkside, dressed in a maroon suit to match Glenn's dazzling maroon dress.
“Of course I feel ecstatic. The score was huge,” Glenn said. “My grandma passed last year and she was with me from day one, and I just felt it today, and I'm not usually one of those people that says it, but I felt like I had something help me today.”
Glenn's showcase came on the heels of a similarly splendid performance from the 20-year-old Liu, who finished sixth at the Beijing Games, then stepped away from the sport entirely because of burnout, but is in the midst of a remarkable comeback.
Last year, she became the first American world champion since Kimmie Meissner in 2006.
Now, Liu is among a few U.S. hopefuls trying to deliver women's Olympic gold for the first time since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
Liu performed the same short program from last year's world championships, opening with a whirling triple flip, landing a solid double axel and finishing with what coach Phillip DiGuglielmo called her best triple lutz-triple loop of the season.
“I'm really happy with the lutz,” Liu said. “That was good. That was real good.”
Levito, the 2023 champion and a former world silver medalist, had to withdraw from nationals last year because of injury. But she looked as if she had never missed a day, performing with style and grace to a medley of music honoring Sophia Loren.
“I felt really happy with myself that I did my job,” Levito said. “I feel like I'm in a really good place right now.”
Earlier in the night, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov began defense of their U.S. pairs title with a near-perfect short program, leaving them nearly eight points clear of the field as they hold out hope of making the American team for the Winter Games.
While the 28-year-old Mitrofanov was born in the U.S., his 26-year-old partner was born in Finland. And despite the couple having wed in early 2024, and Efimova getting a green card approved that summer, she is still waiting for the U.S. to decide whether to waive a three-year waiting period to become a citizen — one of the requirements to represent a nation in the Olympics.
But time is running out before U.S. Figure Skating must announce its Olympic team on Sunday.
“We’re hoping maybe a last-minute miracle might happen,” Mitrofanov said.
Efimova and Mitrofanov seemed to glide inside Enterprise Center on Wednesday night. They opened their short program with a beautiful triple twist, landed their side-by-side triple toe loop in sync, their throw triple loop covered a long expanse of ice, and they finished by pumping their firsts as their music came to a close.
They wound up with a season-best 75.31 points, while Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy were second with 67.67, Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea right behind with 67.13, and Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez were within podium reach with 67.03.
“We're definitely very proud with how we skated tonight. The crowd was amazing,” Mitrofanov said. “We really trusted each other. We trusted our training. I was a little more nervous than normal, to be honest, and I was proud of Alisa holding my hand throughout.”
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Alysa Liu competes during the women's short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Amber Glenn reacts after competing during the women's short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Amber Glenn competes during the women's short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez compete during the pairs short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe compete during the pairs short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea compete during the pairs short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov compete during the pairs short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov compete during the pairs short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
