Harrison Phillips Blasts 'Cancerous' Jets Culture, Defends Aaron Glenn After NFL Hot Seat Rumors

Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips gave his take Thursday on what is plaguing the New York Jets.

Phillips, who was traded from the Minnesota Vikings to the Jets shortly before the start of the 2025 season, spoke to Roundtable Sports on radio row at the Super Bowl (h/t ESPN's Rich Cimini), and suggested that the culture was to blame for the Jets' struggles in 2025 more so than head coach Aaron Glenn, saying, "I think AG inherited a very cancerous, truculent group—whole, top to bottom."

The 30-year-old veteran continued by saying, "It's not individual people's fault. 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."

Originally selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills, Phillips is largely used to success.

Buffalo reached the playoffs in three of Phillips' four seasons, and then the Vikings were a playoff team in two of Phillips' three campaigns with the organization.

As for the Jets, they finished 3-14 in Glenn's first season at the helm in 2025, and they are in the midst of the NFL's longest active playoff drought, having not reached the postseason since 2010.

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Given how long the Jets have struggled, Phillips explained the mindset some players may have and how it then transfers over to the younger players when they join the team.

"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," Phillips said. "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."

When Phillips was asked about his comments by the New York Post (h/t Cimini) later on, he made it clear that he was criticizing the overall culture rather than individual players, saying, "That's a cancerous thought to have."

After the Jets fell flat once again in 2025, rumors and speculation swirled regarding Glenn's job security.

However, rather than making yet another head coaching change, the Jets decided to stick with Glenn and give him an opportunity to show improvement in 2026.

That may be easier said than done, though, especially since the Jets have no clear answer at quarterback.

Justin Fields is under contract for 2026, but he struggled mightily in 2025, and although the Jets have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, there may not be a franchise quarterback available to them, especially if the Las Vegas Raiders take Fernando Mendoza first overall.

There is no sign of an immediate turnaround on the horizon for the Jets, and it is fair to wonder if the issues Phillips brought up will continue to fester as a result.