The Detroit Lions finished the regular season as the top team in the NFL’s National Conference, but when the team resumes training in April, the two main coordinators will no longer be there, as Ben Johnson has left the offensive control to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears and this Tuesday afternoon the New York Jets announced the hiring of Aaron Glenn as their new head coach.
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Glenn, who oversaw the Lions' defense for the past four years, beat out 15 other candidates for the position after an exhaustive search conducted by the Jets.
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In this way, Glenn returns to the team that selected him as a cornerback in the first round of the 1994 Draft and with which he worked as a scout for two seasons.
Joe Namath, the quarterback who led the Jets to their only victory in the 1969 Super Bowl and is the most important figure in the team's history, expressed his satisfaction with Glenn's hiring. "I hope all @nyjets fans are as excited as my family and I are about Aaron Glenn being our new head coach," wrote "Broadway Joe" on X shortly after the news was announced. "I wish the season could start next week!"
Why did the Jets hire Aaron Glenn?
The 52-year-old strategist, who turned Detroit's defense into one of the best in the league, had been one of the most sought-after candidates during the last two NFL hiring cycles. He was interviewed by the Commanders, Falcons, Titans, and Chargers last year, and in addition to the Jets, he met with the Jaguars, Raiders, and Bears in the last few weeks (only online as the Lions were still in competition).
Glenn spoke with the Jets during a video call on January 9 and was then interviewed in person on Tuesday following the surprising elimination of the Lions at the hands of the Commanders.
The Jets also interviewed Brian Flores, Jeff Hafley, Vance Joseph, Mike Locksley, Josh McCown, Matt Nagy, Ron Rivera, Darren Rizzi, Rex Ryan, Bobby Slowik, Arthur Smith, Steve Spagnuolo, Jeff Ulbrich, Mike Vrabel, and Joe Whitt Jr. for the position.
But only Glenn received a second interview. And New York didn't need to think twice before talking to someone else again.
The Jets are also conducting an extensive search for a general manager, and Commanders' assistant GM Lance Newmark was also at the team's facilities on Tuesday.
Will Aaron Rodgers return to the Jets?
Glenn and the new manager will have the task of trying to revitalize a franchise that has the longest active playoff drought in the NFL with 14 seasons.
The main decision for Glenn and the new general manager, along with the controversial team owner Woody Johnson, is what to do with the 41-year-old veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was hired with great fanfare in 2023 and has had two disappointing seasons with the Jets due to a serious injury and mediocre performance.
Rodgers has not commented on a possible retirement while waiting for the Jets to decide if they want him back.