Brief
Jets’ interception drought hits 20 games as coach Glenn vows improvement
The Jets have gone 20 games without a pick, the longest streak ever, while coach Aaron Glenn challenges his staff to close the gap.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Three weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the New York Jets extended their interception‑less streak to 20 games, the longest in league history, after a 31‑24 loss to the Detroit Lions that left them 1‑2, NBC News reported.
What happened
The Jets’ defense has faced 608 pass attempts since their last interception on Jan. 5, 2025, when they recorded two picks. The streak grew during Week 3 in Detroit and continued through the Jets’ subsequent games, including a loss to New Orleans that pushed the streak to 15 and then to 20 after the Lions game.
What the reports add
Former NFL coach John Gruden commented on social media that “you would think a ball would ricochet into somebody’s hands,” highlighting the unusual nature of the streak. Coach Aaron Glenn, a former defensive back with 41 career interceptions, expressed personal disappointment, saying it is “hard to do” and “really puzzling.” He also noted that despite the lack of interceptions, the team secured a turnover and a fourth‑down stop in the Lions game, which he sees as a building point.
What was said
Glenn told reporters in Detroit, “How do we close that gap? I challenge myself, I challenge the staff, I even challenge the players…let’s identify a couple things that we need to improve on and let’s make sure that we hone in on those things.” Gruden added, “That’s hard to do.”
How it came about
Glenn was hired in January 2025 after serving as Detroit’s defensive coordinator, becoming the franchise’s fifth coach since its last winning season in 2015. Early in his tenure, the Jets traded cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, and allowed 29.6 points per game, the league’s second‑most. The team also signed safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in the offseason to bolster the secondary, but the interception drought persists.
Key facts
- The Jets have gone 20 consecutive games without an interception, the longest streak in NFL history. (nbcnews.com)
- The streak began after the Jets' last pick on Jan. 5, 2025, when they recorded two interceptions. (nbcnews.com)
- Coach Aaron Glenn, a former defensive back with 41 career interceptions, expressed disappointment over the streak. (nbcnews.com)
Sources
- [1] nbcnews.com — originally reported as “The Jets might be improved. But they still can’t intercept a pass.”
