An example method of optimizing reverse thrust operation on an aircraft having two or more engines while landing the aircraft is described. The method includes operating the two or more engines on the aircraft in a reverse idle during a landing rollout of the aircraft, responsively causing deployment of a thrust reverser on each of the engines causing a first reverse idle thrust for slowing the aircraft, monitoring each of the engines for failure of deployment of the thrust reverser, and based on detection of a failure of deployment of a respective thrust reverser on one of the engines, operating the one of the engines on the aircraft at a second reverse idle thrust optimized for a direction of an applied thrust of the one of the engines. The second reverse idle thrust is lower than the first reverse idle thrust.