Jets Icon Darrelle Revis Talks Aaron Glenn, Arch Manning, Coaching Interest & More in B/R Interview

As arguably the greatest player in New York Jets franchise history, Hall of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis has lived through the team's thrilling highs and agonizing heartbreaks.

So even with the Jets' 2-7 record entering Sunday's game against the 7-1 Buffalo Bills, Revis can still find reasons for optimism. While highlighting New York's three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL draft, the 41-year-old gave his thoughts on the future of head coach Aaron Glenn, who is 5-21 two years into the job.

"I think it's premature to fire Aaron Glenn. I just think it is," Revis told Bleacher Report. "I think with what we have in the value of the draft picks, I think we need to give him a third year to really hone in… The QB position always solves some of the issues when you got a great quarterback."

The 2027 draft class is expected to be loaded with talented signal-callers, giving the Jets a chance to finally secure their franchise quarterback after years of instability at the position. With prospects such as Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker and Notre Dame's CJ Carr rising up draft boards, Revis weighed in on who he'd like to see under center for New York, as well as what the team should do with its other first-round picks.

"If it's Arch Manning, we love it. He has so much potential," Revis said of the Texas quarterback. "And he comes from a family legacy that knows how to play at a high level of football. So, it's a lot of excitement ahead, I think."

He later added: "I like Leonard Moore, the cornerback from Notre Dame, he's a pretty solid cover corner. We need that back in the secondary, too. Seems like he'll bring a lot of leadership early on, with how he plays at Notre Dame. Coach [Marcus] Freeman is doing a great job developing those young men at Notre Dame."

A shutdown cornerback would surely solve New York's interception problem, as the team has just one pick in 26 games under Glenn. Revis is responsible for one of the greatest cornerback seasons in NFL history, setting a league record with 31 passes defended in 2009, so he knows what it takes to create a successful secondary. The seven-time Pro Bowler gave a thoughtful answer on what the Jets should do to improve their defensive backfield.

"When I played, for me, I've always tried to focus on great study habits. That's one. Attention to detail, especially in the back end of the secondary, only because it's such an uncomfortable position to play. The cornerback position and the safety position. If the ball goes over our head and it's a touchdown, it's an embarrassment," he said. "The fans are going wild about it. So we have to be very focused and have attention to detail in what we're doing and what we're trying to execute as a unit.

"There's a lot of communication on the back end amongst the safeties and the corners to make sure we're on the same page, to play at a very high level, and be playmakers. I think it's about being playmakers and making plays," he continued. "Our job is, we're the last line of defense, and our job is to stop people from making touchdowns. And I think that's the gist of it. And then also playmakers, just make plays in the passing game. If you can get your hands on that ball, we want to turn it over."

With so much insight and expertise, Revis has what it takes to be a successful defensive backs coach in the NFL. While he said he's satisfied with his current life in real estate business ventures and other investments, he clearly has a passion for teaching the tidbits that made him so successful in the league, and he revealed whether he would be willing to lend a hand to his old franchise.

"I'm here, I can be available. It has to be the right situation, obviously. But I'm here," Revis said when asked if he would be interested in a job as a DB coach. "The Jets, if they want to call and have a conversation, I'm open for it because it's for the betterment of the team and to improve the team and be a part of that new success that I believe is about to happen as well."

Whether or not he gets the call to join the team's coaching staff, Revis still makes his presence felt around the Jets. He recently attended New York's Nov. 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, partnering with American Express for the 2026 Shop Small activation at MetLife Stadium. The event spotlighted several local NYC-area small businesses as part of a tailgate pop-up, allowing fans to discover their unique offerings and engage with the business owners directly ahead of Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28.

"It's great to team up with Amex, they do a lot in the community for their clients. I think it was great, I was excited to be back in the area to support the team. ... I think small businesses are very vital and important to a local community," Revis said. "They bring people together. You build friendships, you build networks through those communities with small businesses. And I find it very exciting; that pop-up was very enlightening to see some of the creativity that some of these owners have with small businesses."

In Revis' eight seasons in New York, he experienced the success of back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances in 2009 and 2010, as well as tough rebuild years that the current team is facing. As the Jets try to close out what will likely be a 16th straight year without a playoff appearance, Revis had advice for how Glenn and the players should approach the rest of this season.

"Aaron, as a player, he was a super competitor. I'm sure, as a coach, he is as well. I just would say to be optimistic," he said. "It's so tough to win on a Sunday, it really is. ... But I believe if you pay attention to the details of critiquing yourself as a head coach: What can I improve on? Where are my strengths? Where are my weaknesses? Where can I find a middle ground? And I think if he can do that on a week-to-week basis for the rest of the season, you can see more improvement in the team as well, because obviously he's the head coach, he's leading those guys. And maybe when you critique yourself that way, maybe you can get a couple more wins before the season is over, going into the offseason."

He added: "As a player, it can be frustrating for those guys, especially a guy like Garrett Wilson, whose track record is usually winning more games than losing. ... I know he wants to win now, and it can be frustrating that all the pieces are not falling into place. We paid him a ton of money, we have a lot of belief in his potential and his future. So, he will be a big part of our success in the near future as well. Once we can get a great quarterback in the draft, they can gel together and have that chemistry."

Despite the new incoming quarterback next year, Revis advocated for the Jets to hold on to veteran starter Geno Smith next season to ease the transition for the youngster.

"Love, love, love Geno as well. I think we need to bring Geno back. He's been playing well, even though the record doesn't show it, but his stats have been great. He doesn't turn over the ball a lot. He's a very smart quarterback. I think the new guy can come in and maybe sit, like [Fernando] Mendoza [with the Raiders]. Give the new quarterback some time to just get adjusted to the way of life of being a pro athlete," Revis said. "The players, I know it's frustrating, but show a lot of effort the rest of the games here in this season. Play hard, you're athletes, you know how to play the game. And see if you can squeeze in a couple wins going into the offseason, because that will rub off on you going into the new season."

As for the die-hard fans who stick with the Jets through all the highs and lows, Revis advised them to stay the course, pointing to the recent sports success in New York as a reason to be hopeful that brighter days are ahead for Gang Green.

"Man, I'll say this: the Knicks finally won. Obviously, it took 53 years. I think, right now, be patient. I know every week, we have such loyal fans. They wear the jerseys, they got man caves, they got it all. They come to support because they love the game and they want to win right now. I think that's great," he said. "I just think Darren Mougey, the GM, has done a great job with draft capital. I think we need to be excited for this upcoming draft, because there's no way that we're not going to pick a quarterback. We have to. There's so much college talent out there with these quarterbacks, and we should see who we pick.

"And I think whoever we pick, we should embrace it. We should embrace that. ... And we'll see. We'll just see. I'm very excited. And just be patient. I know this can be frustrating, but I think we should bring a lot of excitement into this new draft."