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Kevin O’Connell found himself repeatedly sending some version of the same text message to his former college roommate at various points during the Jets offseason.And, no, he wasn’t just blowing smoke in GM Darren Mougey’s direction.Text with Brian Costello all season as he brings Sports+ subscribers the latest Jets intel from on the field and off.
“Most of the time I was complimenting him on whether it was a great draft they had, or how they handled some of their internal situations there — getting their running back (Breece Hall re-signed),” O’Connell, the Vikings head coach, said Thursday on a Zoom ahead of golfing in the American Century Championship.“I just think the plan that he’s had has been really well thought-out.It’s one thing — a lot of teams put the time and the energy in to have as much good planning as you can — but it’s about the execution of those plans.
The way Darren has gone about it doesn’t surprise me.”O’Connell, a former Jets backup quarterback who now is regarded as one of the league’s top quarterback whisperers, and Mougey were San Diego State football teammates who have stayed in touch during their non-overlapping NFL journeys.“I know there’s not a day Darren shows up to work that he doesn’t feel prepared — and I think that’s proving to be the case,” O’Connell said.“He’s not afraid to make difficult decisions, and I think that’s because it’s in alignment with the process that he has.
He’s attempting to execute a vision that he has for that organization.As a former Jet, it’s always good to see the organization in good hands — and they certainly are with Darren and A.G.
(head coach Aaron Glenn).”After Mougey loaded up on draft picks by trading Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner during a teardown 2025 season, the 2026 Jets should feature at least six new defensive starters thanks to spreading around a relatively modest $88.4 million free-agency tab, three rookies drafted in ...