Jets make a decision aligned with their recent history, but hoping for a different outcome
Look at the New York Jets recent history. Bill Parcells, Al Groh, Herman Edwards, Eric Mangini, Rex Ryan, Todd Bowles, Robert Saleh. Outside of a two-year stint with Adam Gase, the franchise has preferred to invest in defensive-minded head coaches. They have done it again. On Wednesday, the Jets decided that former Detroit Lions defensive […]
Look at the New York Jets recent history. Bill Parcells, Al Groh, Herman Edwards, Eric Mangini, Rex Ryan, Todd Bowles, Robert Saleh. Outside of a two-year stint with Adam Gase, the franchise has preferred to invest in defensive-minded head coaches.
They have done it again.
On Wednesday, the Jets decided that former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will be the team's 21st full-time head coach.
Recently, the results wouldn’t indicate the need to keep the same philosophy in the hiring process. But the Jets feel like Glenn is the exact type of leader they need—and after what the Lions defense did while handling an absurd amount of injuries was impressive enough to show his schematic prowess and his leadership abilities.
The New Orleans Saints also wanted Glenn, but the Jets didn’t let him leave the building without a deal.
Defensive philosophy
In terms of schematic ideas, Aaron Glenn has totally different premises than Robert Saleh had, even though both ultimately want an aggressive unit. It's a man-heavy defense, leading the NFL in cover 1.
"A tough, physical, violent operation that loves to play man coverage," Glenn said during his stint with the Lions about the style of his defense. "That's who we are. That's our identity."
Glenn spent four seasons as the Lions defensive coordinator, and results were somewhat medíocre for the first three. Some of that was the lack of talent, some was just Glenn implementing what he wanted.
"We have a true identity on this football team," Glenn has said. "It's not for everybody. Everybody doesn't fit with what we do because not everybody can take it. It's for the tough, it's for the grinders, it's for the gritty, it's for the guys who want to improve on a day-to-day basis. And you are never satisfied."
Now, that logic will be ahead of what the Jets do.
Track record
A 52-year-old coach, Aaron Glenn started his history in the NFL with the New York Jets. Back in 1994, the cornerback was the 12th overall pick and went to play eight seasons for New York before being selected by the Houston Texans in the 2002 expansion draft to play for the Houston Texans.
He also played for the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New Orleans Saints, retiring after the 2008 season. After his playing career, Glenn became the general manager of the Houston Stallions of the Lone Star Football League, a minor indoor league. He returned to the NFL, and to the Jets, between 2012 and 2013 as a personnel scout.
Glenn started his coaching career with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 as an assistant defensive backs coach. That led to an opportunity with the New Orleans Saints as a DBs coach, between 2016 and 2020.
He was hired as the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator in 2021, for Dan Campbell's inaugural staff.
After starting his playing career and his front office career with the Jets, nothing fits better. Aaron Glenn will start his head coaching career at the same place.
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