The Jets have hired Aaron Glenn as head coach, aiming to revitalize the team and find a new general manager to support him
New York: Garrett Wilson really opened up about the Jets losing their “gene” after a tough overtime loss to the Dolphins last December. It was a clear sign of what the team needed to fix.
And now, they might just have the answer.
On Wednesday, the Jets officially brought Aaron Glenn on board as their new head coach.
Glenn’s got a lot on his plate when he steps into his role at One Jets Drive. First off, he has to decide what to do with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Plus, there are several free agents like DJ Reed and Morgan Moses that need to be addressed. The team also needs upgrades in key positions like the defensive line, safety, and receiver. But the biggest challenge? He needs to shake things up within the team.
Former coach Robert Saleh believed in a player-led approach, which is great, but every team still needs a strong leader. Someone to set the tone and hold players accountable. That’s where Saleh struggled, and the Jets are hoping Glenn can step up.
At 52, Glenn was the 12th pick in the 1994 draft by the Jets and made three Pro Bowls during his career. He’s got the respect of former players, and they’ll listen to him because they know he’s been through it all.
But Glenn didn’t just get this job by chance. He worked hard for it. He started as a scout, then moved on to coaching roles with the Browns and Saints, and most recently, he was the defensive coordinator for the Lions. He helped turn that team around from being a joke to a contender.
This past season, the Lions finished 15-2, with their defense ranking seventh in points allowed per game, even with a bunch of injuries. His players really rallied together, especially in a standout game against the Vikings where they held them to just nine points.
The Jets are looking for that same energy and fight that’s been missing for the last few years.
New York took its time finding replacements for Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, both of whom were let go last season. They interviewed over a dozen candidates before deciding on Glenn, who was the only one to get a second interview. They were also interested in Mike Vrabel but couldn’t pull him away from the Patriots.
As for the GM position, they’re still on the hunt. Lance Newmark, who’s the assistant GM for the Commanders, had a second interview recently. He and Glenn have worked together before in Detroit.
Sources say Newmark was looking to either join Glenn with the Jets or follow Ben Johnson to the Raiders. With Johnson taking the Bears job, it opened the door for Newmark to potentially come to New York.
The Jets have been reaching out to other candidates for both coaching and GM roles, but there was a strong belief that Newmark was the frontrunner to team up with Glenn.
Now that Glenn is officially in charge, he can start building his coaching staff. Reports say he’s eyeing Steve Wilks as his defensive coordinator. Wilks has a lot of experience and has been a head coach before, which could be a big plus. For offensive coordinator, he’s looking at Rams passing game coordinator Nick Caley, though that might be tricky since Caley has a close bond with the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
LaFleur, who was the Jets’ offensive coordinator before being let go, had his struggles with Zach Wilson, who was traded a year after LaFleur left. Wilson is now the Broncos’ third-string quarterback.
Scott Turner, the former Raiders offensive coordinator, is also in the mix, along with Klint Kubiak as a potential candidate.
The Jets are in a tough spot. It’s been 14 years since they last made the playoffs, and they really need a change.
Glenn’s early years with the Jets were rough too. He went 6-10, then 3-13, and finally 1-15 before Bill Parcells came in and started turning things around.
Glenn was part of that rebuild back then, and now, 31 years later, he’s back to try and do it all over again.