Rich CiminiFeb 5, 2026, 08:10 PM ETCloseRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Why Damien Woody likes Jets’ hire of Frank Reich (0:27)Damien Woody weighs in on the Jets’ decision to hire Frank Reich as offensive coordinator. (0:27)
“I think AG inherited a very cancerous, truculent group — whole, top to bottom,” Phillips told Roundtable Sports on radio row at the Super Bowl.
“It’s not individual people’s fault,” said Phillips, acquired in an August trade with the Minnesota Vikings. “I was there for one season — it was a very difficult season — and I almost wanted to waver on some of my thoughts and my beliefs and my optimism.
“So, I can’t imagine being there for year after year after year after year and not seeing the results that you wanted, and it tainted people.”
The Jets have endured 10 straight losing seasons, 15 consecutive years out of the playoffs — the NFL’s longest active drought.
“Then, young players come in and see, ‘Oh, that’s my vet, that’s how they’re acting, so that’s the way I’m going to act, too.’ It’s a long chain of things and it can’t be fixed like that.”
Later, when reached by the New York Post on radio row, Phillips tried to clarify his remarks, saying he wasn’t criticizing individuals but rather the “Same Old Jets” mindset.
The offseason, too, has been turbulent, as Glenn waited three weeks after the season before firing offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. He also fired eight other assistants. He has since hired Frank Reich to replace Engstrand and Brian Duker to replace Steve Wilks, who was fired as defensive coordinator late in the season.
Expecting Glenn to continue his overhaul of the roster, Phillips is confident the team can rebound in 2026.
“I think AG’s mindset, of any coach I’ve been around, to deal with what we had to deal with this season and be as consistent as he was to us throughout that whole thing, was super cool to see,” Phillips said.
Why Damien Woody likes Jets’ hire of Frank Reich (0:27)Damien Woody weighs in on the Jets’ decision to hire Frank Reich as offensive coordinator. (0:27)
Rich CiminiFeb 5, 2026, 08:10 PM ETCloseRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.Follow on X
Describing what happens in a losing atmosphere, Phillips said players get distracted “because my coach is going to get fired, my teammate’s going to get fired, I’m going to be a free agent, I might get fired, I have to play for me, I have to make sure my tape is hot regardless of what the system is asking me to do, what the scheme is telling me to do.
“That’s a cancerous thought to have,” he told the newspaper.
Damien Woody weighs in on the Jets’ decision to hire Frank Reich as offensive coordinator. (0:27)