The Jets landed their head coach on Wednesday, hiring Aaron Glenn as the 19th head coach in team history.
Glenn, who was the team’s first-round pick in 1994, takes over a franchise desperate for a spark after a ninth straight losing season. Can he provide it? Time will tell.
Here are some questions and answers about the Glenn hire:
Q: What appealed to the Jets about Glenn?
A: One word: leadership. The Jets did not set out to find the best schematic coach in the NFL in this search. They wanted someone who projected confidence and exudes leadership qualities. The Jets feel like they have that with Glenn. They also liked his history with the team. He played eight years for the franchise and knows the market. This is not just Glenn jumping at the first head coaching job to come his way. This is somewhere he has roots.
Q: Why did Glenn pick the Jets?
A: The Saints were very interested in Glenn, too, but he did not get to New Orleans for a second interview. Glenn will have to answer this question for himself at his introductory news conference, but he had told people in recent weeks that the Jets were his top choice. You have to think his history with the organization and a solid core of young stars made the Jets an appealing destination for him.
Q: What does this mean for Aaron Rodgers?
A: This remains to be seen and probably won’t be known for a few weeks. The new general manager will have a say in this decision as well. Glenn probably will meet or at least talk to Rodgers to gauge his interest in returning for the 2025 season and get a feel for whether they can work together.
Q: Who will be his offensive coordinator?
A: With Glenn’s background as a defensive coach, his pick for offensive coordinator becomes his biggest hire. It is not clear who the favorite is, but league sources said Rams тιԍнт ends coach Nick Caley and Scott Turner, who was most recently Raiders interim offensive coordinator, are in the running for the job. There have been reports that Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell are also possibilities.
Q: How can he improve the defense?
A: The Jets defense took a step back last season, especially after Robert Saleh was fired. Glenn should bring changes to the defense scheme-wise. Glenn plays a lot of man-to-man and had the second-highest blitz rate this season with the Lions. That is much different than how the Jets operated under Saleh and former defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
Q: Is Glenn picking the GM?
A: Glenn is expected to be part of the process of selecting the new GM now that he has been hired, but the Jets are not just going to turn the decision over to him. Jets owner Woody Johnson will make the ultimate call and the team has already interviewed 15 candidates. But Glenn’s comfort with the GM is going to be a factor in the decision.
Q: Has a Jets coach ever been a former Jets player before?
A: Not to the extent that Glenn was. But Walt Michaels played one game in 1963 in an emergency when he was an ᴀssistant coach. He then became the head coach in 1977.
