The exodus from Detroit continues, as only days after the Chicago Bears hired former Lions OC Ben Johnson to be their new head coach, the New York Jets are now preparing to welcome DC Aaron Glenn to the sidelines at MetLife Stadium.
The hiring is a homecoming of sorts for Glenn whom the Jets selected 12th overall in the 1994 NFL Draft and for whom he played the first 8 seasons of his NFL career. The now 52 year old was a three time Pro Bowl selection at cornerback, and was a big reason why the Lions were able to secure the number 1 seed in the NFC this season at 15-2.
Glenn spent the last 4 seasons as defensive coordinator for Detroit, with his team finishing 7th in points allowed this year. He will now take over as head coach for the recently departed Robert Saleh who was let go by the team on October 8th.
The former DB was a highly sought after coaching candidate this offseason, with multiple coach-needy franchises inquiring about his services. According to reports, Glenn interviewed with every NFL club who needed a new head coach with the exception of the New England Patriots since being eliminated from the postseason.
However the chance to take over a franchise with which he’s already familiar with, and has a bevy of talented roster pieces was ultimately the tipping point which brought Glenn back to New York.
Lions rookie CB Terrion Arnold had nothing but positive things to say about his former defensive coordinator, telling reporters recently “AG taught me a lot of lessons, but the main one that would stick out is just as far as being a competitor. His main point to us, day-in, day-out and night-in, night-out was just challenge,” Arnold said. “Go out there and don’t beat yourself. The guy really taught me how to be a smart football player and he taught me how to be a pro, the ins and outs of it. I’m very fortunate to have somebody like that.”
In all likelihood, Glenn will need to bring a similar mentality to New York to help turn around a defensive unit that isn’t lacking in star power, but took major steps backwards last season.
The Jets ranked 25th in total defence per PFF, while ranking 20th in the NFL with 404 points allowed in 2024. This was a major drop off from the 2023 on field performance for New York who gave up the 3rd fewest yards in the NFL, had the 8th most turnovers forced, and gave up the 2nd fewest passing yards in the league.
With Glenn out of the picture in Detroit, possible internal candidates to replace him include linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard, DB coach Deshea Townsend, and defensive assistant Jim O’Neil. That being said, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Detroit also seeks a veteran outside hire in an attempt to keep their championship window open for as long as possible.
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