After seven straight weeks of frustration, Aaron Glenn finally had something to celebrate — his first victory.
The former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator, now leading the New York Jets, earned his first win as a head coach with a thrilling 39-38 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The triumph snapped the Jets’ seven-game losing streak and erased the label of being the NFL’s only winless team.
Trailing 31-16 to begin the fourth quarter, the Jets exploded for 23 points while holding Cincinnati to just seven, pulling off a stunning comeback to secure the dramatic victory.
With 1:54 left on the clock and first-and-goal from the Bengals’ 4-yard line, running back Breece Hall pulled off a bit of trickery. After taking a pitch from quarterback Justin Fields, Hall rolled right and faked a throw before darting toward the end zone.
As defenders converged, Hall tossed a short pass to tight end Mason Taylor for the go-ahead touchdown. Kicker Nick Folk’s extra point sealed the 39-38 lead and the win for New York.
After the game, an emotional Glenn addressed his locker room with a passionate speech reminiscent of his former boss, Lions coach Dan Campbell, from their four seasons together in Detroit.
“I don’t have all the stats right now, but man, defense, when it mattered, you stepped your (expletive) up and made the plays we needed,” Glenn said. “Offense — 500 (expletive) yards. 254 rushing yards.
“Man, I love this team. And from here on out, grit. Grit! I told you in the offseason, we had to build an edge — and we did. You showed all the grit in the world to win this game.”
Hall, who threw the game-winning touchdown, also had 18 carries for 133 yards and two rushing scores. Fields added 244 passing yards and a touchdown in one of his most efficient outings of the year.
Following a tough loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 7, Jets owner Woody Johnson had publicly voiced his faith in Glenn at the NFL’s fall league meeting.
“I believe in Aaron,” Johnson said. “I’ve known him since 1996 — I’ve always been a fan. I see how he commands a room. If I were a player, I’d respond to him because he’s genuine. No BS, no hidden motives. What you hear from him is the truth, and players don’t always get that — they get a lot of noise instead.”
After their bye week, Glenn will have the opportunity to build on his momentum when the Jets host the struggling Cleveland Browns at home on Nov. 9, aiming for their second straight victory.




