Did Aaron Glenn fall asleep during the NFL Combine? Why some fans think cameras caught the coach in a bad spot

Being an NFL coach demands long hours and tireless work. It's not uncommon to read stories about coaches showing up to team facilities in the early, early hours of the morning and not leaving until it's pitch black outside. Given that grueling schedule, it wouldn't be a surprise if most NFL coaches were sleep deprived throughout the day, their bodies desperate for rest. 

Because of that, it wouldn't be all that surprising if NFL Network cameras caught New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn sleeping during the NFL Combine on Thursday.

It also wouldn't be a great look if that was the case.

That scenario became an open question Thursday after footage emerged in which it looks like Glenn had his eyes closed while at the event. 

The jokes write themselves. "Want to know why the Jets went 3-14 last season? It's probably because their head coach fell asleep at the combine." Given the Jets' recent struggles and Glenn's rocky head-coaching debut, it's easy to crack jokes and assume the worst.

It's also foolish to assume that is what's going in the clip. Given the distance and angle of the camera shot, it's possible Glenn has his eyes down, and is looking at a sheet or a laptop in front of him. Given how quickly he reacts once the cameras are on him, it's certainly plausible he was watching coverage of the event and perked up when he realized he was being shown on the broadcast. 

But that's not going to stop fans from cracking jokes, because — let's face it — the Jets are an easy target. The team hasn't turned in a winning season since 2015 and the team's two big offseason moves last year — Glenn and quarterback Justin Fields — flopped. While Fields' issues have reached a point where his future as a starter can be written off, it's far too early in Glenn's coaching career to make those types of declarations. Things didn't go well in his first season, but he can still salvage things in Year 2. 

The chances of that happening probably depend on how well the Jets perform in the 2026 NFL Draft, where the team holds the No. 2 overall pick. Expecting the Jets to crush the draft might be asking too much considering the team's recent history, but the team would probably fare better in the event if it's head coach was awake and paying attention during the combine. 

Here's hoping — for Jets fans' sake — that was the case Thursday.