ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news earlier today that the Jets are signing former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as their next head coach. New York reached new lows this past season after finishing the year with a 5-12 record while rostering a team with enough talent for a potential Super Bowl run.
Experience was the motto going into this coaching search. Names like Mike Vrabel, Brian Flores, Vance Joseph, and even Rex Ryan were mentioned throughout this process. As a fan, I was fully on board. Under no circumstances did I trust this franchise to take another chance on an inexperienced head coach. However, there was one name that kept garnering some attention, Aaron Glenn.
Here are three reasons why Glenn quickly became my one exception:
A big reason why the Jets had to hire someone with experience is because this team desperately needs an adult in the building. Someone who would command the locker room and hold players and even other coaches accountable. This organization has only proved its dysfunction and that needs to change.
Aaron Glenn played a huge part in contributing to the Lions 15-2 season. Although their season ended earlier than expected, Glenn’s work was substantial. Detriot was faced with a magnitude of injuries throughout the season and despite the adversity, the team’s defense still ranked seventh in points allowed, up from 23rd in 2023. Glenn, along with Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, quickly became two of the league’s most desired candidates this cycle.
As Aaron Glenn’s name made its way to the surface for the Jets, so did the praise. It’s hard to find a negative tweet from an NFL analyst about the former Lions coach. While there are no guarantees, Glenn genuinely seems like a guy who will step in and not be overwhelmed by the moment.
New York drafted Aaron Glenn with the 12th overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft. The three-time pro bowler played eight seasons for the Jets, intercepting 24 passes along with collecting 396 tackles.
The fact that it seemed like Aaron Glenn wanted the Jets just as much as the Jets wanted him speaks volumes. Even after a disastrous season and multiple negative reports about Woody Johnson meddling too much, Glenn’s interest never wavered.
After the Jets met with Glenn this week, they flew him back to Detroit via Woody’s private jet. He was set to meet with the Saints in a couple of days but ended up signing with New York today. If Glenn had any doubts, he would’ve at least taken the meeting in New Orleans to weigh his options.
Another factor that stands out is how quickly multiple Jets players expressed their approval of the team’s latest hire. The team is already rallying around the idea of working under Aaron Glenn’s leadership.
New York’s former coach, Robert Saleh, never really seemed to have the respect of the locker room. His tenure was filled with sayings and phrases but never results. This team’s lack of energy on the field, especially towards the end, was an indictment of his coaching and the overall culture that he failed to build.
As I previously mentioned, there are no guarantees. Aaron Glenn will have his hands full establishing a culture within this Jets organization. The team still needs to hire a general manager and figure out what they are doing at the quarterback position.
For now, it’s safe to say that Glenn is a good hire with a lot of potential, but will he finally be the one to deliver and help turn this New York Jets organization around?
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