Aaron Glenn sends passionate message to Jets fans after Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams trades

While the New York Jets acquired future draft assets for star cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and stud defensive tackle Quinnen Williams on Tuesday, Jets general manager Darren Mougey insisted that the club wasn't in the middle of a roster "teardown." 

While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn sent a message to supporters who might be upset that the 1-7 team parted ways with two fan favorites during what seems to be a franchise reset. 

Jets' Aaron Glenn, Darren Mougey building team that "fans will be proud of"

"I want this to be a team that the fans are proud of," Glenn explained, per SNY. "But again, I've never said that we're going to be proud of them right now. At some point, I want this to be a team that the fans are proud of. I still stick with that. I will still say that. This is a team that the fans will be proud of."

The Jets received two first-round draft picks and out-of-favor wide receiver Adonai "AD" Mitchell from the Indianapolis Colts for Gardner. New York later sent Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for Dallas' first-round pick in 2027, a second-round choice in 2026 and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

"I'm not going to get into the patience and all that type of crap that you always hear, but I would tell you this — our guys are working. We're going to continue to work, and I'm going to stand by that statement. I want this to be a team that the fans are proud of," Glenn continued. 

What Aaron Glenn told Jets players after Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams trades

Tuesday's trades might help the Jets become a contender before the decade ends, but that probably doesn't mean much to the Gang Green squad with nine games left on the schedule. On Wednesday, Glenn was asked what he told his players about the departures of Gardner and Williams.

"I always hit things head-on," Glenn said. "Obviously, when you have two guys like that who end up leaving your team, you don't want to make too much of a deal about it because the players know this is a league of change. That's as far as it went." 

Glenn said that the Jets "are moving forward" and are "focused" on Sunday's home game against the Cleveland Browns (2-6). As of Wednesday afternoon, ESPN BET had the Jets as 2.5-point underdogs for that matchup. The Jets initially opened as 1.5-point favorites.