Once a three-time Pro Bowler with the New York Jets, Aaron Glenn has returned home as the head coach, but the team loses two draft picks to the Detroit Lions in the process.
The Jets made the Glenn hiring official on Wednesday, just four days after the Lions’ season abruptly ended in the divisional round against the Washington Commanders. Glenn served as the defensive coordinator for the Lions from 2021 to 2024 after previous coaching stints with the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns as a defensive backs coach.
Detroit receives two compensatory draft picks for the Glenn hiring because of the Rooney Rule. The NFL rule promotes diversity in leadership and requires each team to interview at least one minority candidate for a head coaching job.
If a team such as the Lions loses a minority coach or executive to another squad such as the Jets, the Rooney Rule requires compensatory draft picks go to Lions for the loss. Detroit will acquire a third-round pick for 2025 and 2026.
Glenn, who helped turn the Lions into a contender, will now look to turn the Jets around after two lackluster seasons despite the acquisition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2023. The Texas native played for the Jets from 1994 to 2001 before stints with the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Saints.
Jets chairman Robert Wood Johnson likes the longevity and leadership Glenn brings to the table. Glenn was one of 16 candidates who interviewed for the job.
“I’m excited to welcome Aaron Glenn home as the head coach of the New York Jets,” Johnson said in a statement on Wednesday. “Aaron earned this opportunity through almost three decades of NFL experience—ten with us as a player and a scout. He brings tremendous leadership skills and the vision this organization needs to be successful. I am thrilled to see him lead this team.”
Glenn was a force in the Jets defensive backfield with 24 interceptions, 36 pass deflections and 396 tackles in eight seasons with the team. After retirement in 2008, he served as a personnel scout for the Jets from 2012 to 2013 before his coaching career.
“I’m thankful to Mr. Johnson for this opportunity. To our players, prepare to be coached with everything we have,” Glenn said. “That is our responsibility. I ask that we share the same vision and that’s working towards winning a championship. To our fans, simply put, expect a winning team that you will be proud of.”
Winning hasn’t been frequent for the Jets amid nine-straight losing seasons. The Jets have finished above .500 twice since 2010 when the team last made the playoffs and lost in the AFC Championship Game.
Glenn helped complete a rebuilding process in Detroit, a franchise that had three-straight losing seasons and a four-year playoff drought when he arrived. The Lions went 3–13–1 in his first season as defensive coordinator, but the team turned things around to go 9–8 in 2022 and 12–5 in 2023 with a NFC Championship Game appearance. This season, the Lions had one of the league’s top teams again at 15–2 with the No. 1 seed despite a load of injuries on defense.
The Jets have talented young players on defense such as linebacker Jamien Sherwood, 24, who led the team in tackles with 158 in 2024. Cornerbacks D.J. Reed, 28, and Sauce Gardner, 24, led the team pass deflections with 11 and nine respectively, and defensive end Will McDonald, 25, led the team in sacks with 10.5.
Offensively, the Jets have young talent around Rodgers such as team rushing leaders Breece Hall, 24, and team receiving yards leader Garrett Wilson, 24. That said, the Jets could be looking for a new quarterback, depending on Rodgers’ decision for his future.
