The Jets are bringing back one of their own.
The team hired Aaron Glenn to be their 19th head coach on Tuesday. Glenn, who was the team’s first-round draft choice in 1994 and played eight seasons for the Jets, spent the past four years as the Lions defensive coordinator.
The Jets zeroed in on Glenn during an extensive search for a head coaching candidate that saw them interview 16 different people. Glenn, 52, emerged as the favorite to get the job after Mike Vrabel decided to take the Patriots job.
Glenn interviewed for a second time with the Jets on Tuesday in Florham Park. He interviewed virtually with the team on Jan. 9.
Lance Newmark, who knows Glenn from three years together in Detroit, interviewed for the general manager job for a second time on Tuesday.
Newmark spent 26 seasons in Detroit before going to the Commanders last year where he was the ᴀssistant general manager under Adam Peters.
Newmark had a virtual interview with the Jets on Jan. 11, two days after Glenn interviewed for the job. That could be a sign that he was recommended by Glenn. It would make sense for the Jets to try to pair two men who have a previous working relationship in the jobs.
Glenn’s defenses in Detroit ranked 29th, 32nd, 19th and 20th in yards allowed per game and 31st, 28th, 23rd and 7th in points allowed. The Lions went 15-2 this season and were the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs despite losing a number of defensive players to injury. The Lions were upset by the Commanders 45-31 on Saturday.
The Jets are not hiring Glenn just for his defensive acumen, though. Glenn is known as a tough coach who is popular with players but also is not shy when holding them accountable. The Jets entered this coaching search prioritizing leadership over everything else.
The biggest question about Glenn now will be who he hires as his offensive coordinator. Glenn said last week that he does not view himself as just a defensive coach.
“Here’s the one thing that I will say about myself, I’m a coach, I just happen to be on defense,” Glenn 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.”
The Lions’ surprising loss to Washington accelerated the hiring process. If the Lions had won, the Jets would have been unable to interview Glenn in person until next week.
Glenn was scheduled to interview a second time with the Saints on Wednesday but the Jets made sure that did not happen. Glenn also interviewed with the Jaguars, Raiders and Bears during this hiring cycle.
Glenn began his post-playing career as a scout with the Jets in 2012-13. He then worked as a coach for the Browns and Saints before taking the Lions job under head coach Dan Campbell in 2021.
The Jets are coming off a disappointing 5-12 season that began with high expectations. Jets owner Woody Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start but the move did not change the direction of the team. He fired GM Joe Douglas six weeks later.
Glenn and the new GM will have to decide whether to bring back quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who remains under contract but did not produce the results people expected last season.
There is also a question about whether to bring back wide receiver Davante Adams, who was acquired by trade in the middle of the season.
The answers to those questions will get cleared up in the coming weeks. For now, the Jets have found their new leader and it is a familiar face.
