Jets defensive tackle Harrison Phillips was in attendance when two NFL franchises -- first Buffalo and then Minnesota -- began to transform their teams' dynamics.
"I got drafted to Buffalo [in 2018], it was the end of a 17-year NFL playoff drought," Phillips said on Monday. "They hadn't had a winning organization in a while. And you did feel the frustration from the fans, but you still felt the passion from the fans. And I think it would only be fair if the fans would probably show this new thing a little bit of grace. Unless they can look at other organizations and other turnovers, when a new regime stepped in, they found automatic, immediate success right away. It normally hasn't happened that way.
"There's not a lot of first-time head coaches with a brand new roster and a brand new GM and a brand coach that end up going to the Super Bowl and winning the thing. Those are the goals that we have for ourselves every season, and we'll still work toward those this year.
"I felt like I was a part of it in Buffalo. I felt like I was a part of it in Minnesota. And it wasn't just created overnight. You have to mold and beat in what the culture is going to be to players, to get them out of the past, to get them out of scarred ways, to get them out of places they've been before. We're trying to build a winning culture. What does that look like to be a pro? Twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week, for 365 days. That's what you have to buy into. But you know, it's going to take time."
Phillips, who joined the Jets in late August via a trade with Minnesota, has been a constant presence in the Jets defensive line through five games under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn. Overall, Phillips has made 15 tackles and has a half-sack. He has also forced a fumble, though the Jets have yet to corral a takeaway.
Having experienced new regimes that first righted and then turned around their ships and found consistent success, Phillips said he hears and feels the same thing from Glenn.
"His messaging is staying consistent," Phillips said. "If you were the head coach of this team, I'm sure you would be saying the same things. I'm sure a lot of people would say the same things, but it's not lip service with AG. You can feel his passion.