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New York Jets hire Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator, as next head coach
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- New York Jets hire Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator, as next head coach
The Detroit Lions will have two new coordinators calling plays next fall.
The New York Jets have reportedly agreed to a deal with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to become their next head coach, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and multiple reports.
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The Lions were eliminated from the playoffs on Saturday by the Washington Commanders . Glenn became available to be hired after the loss.
Glenn had virtual interviews with five teams during the Lions' first-round playoff bye - the New Orleans Saints , New York Jets, Chicago Bears , Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders – and turned down a sixth with the New England Patriots .
He emerged as a top candidate for both the Saints and Jets openings and has deep ties to both teams.
Glenn played his final NFL season for the Saints in 2008 and spent five years as an assistant with the team before joining Dan Campbell's initial staff in Detroit in 2021. He played eight seasons and made two Pro Bowls with the Jets in 1997-98, and spent a season with the team as a scout.
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On Monday, the Bears hired Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach.
In his fourth year with the Lions, Glenn oversaw one of the league's most injury-riddled but opportunistic defenses this fall.
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn watches a replay during the first half of the 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round of the NFL playoffs at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
The Lions went 15-2 in the regular season, had the league's seventh-best scoring defense and tied for fifth with 16 interceptions despite finishing the year with five defensive starters, including their top two pass rushers, on injured reserve. Aidan Hutchinson broke his leg in October, Alim McNeill tore his ACL in December, Carlton Davis broke his jaw before Christmas and Marcus Davenport (triceps) and Derrick Barnes (knee) suffered season-ending injuries in the same September game.
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Glenn's defenses consistently ranked in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed, but players have long praised his aggressive approach and authentic leadership style.
"We all know AG and obviously he's a hell of a coach, hell of a teacher, hell of a person," linebacker Alex Anzalone said. "I say this a lot, every leadership quality and everything that Dan gets credit for and everything like that, I think AG has that in him as well. It's just a matter of time to get that opportunity and I think it's going to be this year. So I'm happy for him, I'm excited for him and I know he's been wanting it, so we'll see what happens."
Glenn said in mid-January he had "a really good time" on the interview circuit this year and refuted the notion he was just a defensive coach.
"I'm a coach, I just happen to be on defense," he said. "I understand the offense just as well as a number of people, so if you want to hire me, you're going to hire a coach, you're not going to hire a defensive coach. I'm going to talk to the offense just as much as I'm going to talk to the defense."
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As for his leadership style, Glenn said it's always been his goal to influence "everybody that I come in contact with" in a positive way.
"I don't take that for granted when it comes to players because that's my responsibility," he said. "It's almost the same as my children, I want to make sure that everybody that I come in contact with, that when they leave AG that they have something positive to say. And it's not always going to be like that, cause I do get pissed off at people, too. But to me that's what I want to impart on every player that I come across, even the players that end up leaving here. I want to impart something positive into them so as they go about their way, that I've taught them something that can make them a better person and a better player."
The Lions have multiple in-house candidates to replace Glenn as defensive coordinator, or could look outside the organization.
Glenn said in December he was mentoring linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to be a defensive coordinator in the near future, defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend interviewed for the San Francisco 49ers ' defensive coordinator job during the bye and defensive line coach Terrell Williams doubles currently as the defensive run game coordinator.
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Dave Birkett is the author of the new book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline." Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Aaron Glenn is Jets next head coach: New York hires Detroit Lions DC
