Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn agrees to terms with Jets to become their head coach

Aaron Glenn is back where his NFL journey began almost 31 years ago.

He was then a game-changing cornerback for the New York Jets. He is now tasked with helping turn around the franchise’s fortunes.

The Jets and Glenn agreed Wednesday to make the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator their head coach.

Glenn, who has overseen the Lions’ defense for the past four seasons, beat 15 other candidates for the position as the Jets conducted an extensive search.

And they ended up picking one of their former players — a 1994 first-round pick who was mentored by Bill Parcells, became one of the Jets’ best playmakers and became a well-respected player and highly sought after trainer.

“This place is special to me,” Glenn said in a statement released by the Jets, who announced the deal Wednesday night. “From the time I was drafted and coached on Long Island to the time I came back as a scout in New Jersey, this organization has always felt like home.”

Glenn, 52, who made Detroit’s defense one of the best in the league, interviewed with Washington, Atlanta, Tennessee and the Los Angeles Chargers last year. And he met the Jets, Jacksonville, Las Vegas and Chicago this year.

Glenn spoke with the Jets on a video call on Jan. 9, then was interviewed in person on Tuesday.

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 work.

But only Glenn got a second interview. And New York didn’t need to think twice about talking to anyone else again.

“I am thrilled to welcome Aaron Glenn home as head coach of the New York Jets,” owner Woody Johnson said in a statement. “Aaron has earned this opportunity with nearly three decades of NFL experience – 10 with us as a player and scout.

“He brings tremendous leadership skills and the vision this organization needs to succeed.” I’m excited to see him lead this team.

Glenn becomes the third Black head coach in franchise history, joining Herm Edwards and Todd Bowles. He is also the first Black coach to be hired to lead an NFL team during this year’s hiring cycle.

“I thank Mr. Johnson for this opportunity,” Glenn said. “To our players, prepare to be coached with everything we have. It’s our responsibility. I ask that we share the same vision and that of working to win a championship.

“For our fans, simply put, expect a winning team that you will be proud of.”

The Jets have also been searching for a general manager for a long time, and Washington assistant general manager Lance Newmark was also at the team’s facility Tuesday.

Newmark, one of 15 candidates to interview for the general manager job, was the first to get a second meeting with the Jets – like Glenn – but didn’t agree to a deal. New York is expected to have a second interview with Denver assistant general manager Darren Mougey and Cincinnati executive Trey Brown.

Glenn and the new general manager will be tasked with trying to revamp a franchise that has the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons.

Glenn played eight seasons with New York and was selected as one of the franchise’s All-Time Four Decade team cornerbacks in 2003.

He then worked in Houston, Dallas, Jacksonville and New Orleans and finished his career with 41 interceptions, including six returned for touchdowns, and made the Pro Bowl three times.

Following his 15-year playing career, Glenn served as general manager of the Houston Stallions of the Lone Star Football League in 2012 before returning to the Jets as a personnel scout later that year.

He was Cleveland’s assistant defensive backs coach from 2014-15 before being hired in the same position in New Orleans. After five seasons with the Saints, he was hired by the Lions as defensive coordinator in 2021.

Joe Namath, the quarterback who led the Jets to their only Super Bowl victory, in 1969, was pleased with Glenn’s hiring.

“I hope all @nyjets fans are as excited as my family and I are that Aaron Glenn is our new head coach,” Namath wrote the shortly after the news broke. “I wish the season started next week!”

The Lions, who lost to Washington last Saturday in the NFC divisional round, are now down both of their coordinators, with Glenn joining the Jets and offensive guru. Ben Johnson hired by the Bears.

Glenn will become the sixth full-time first-time head coach hired by the Jets since the end of the 2000 season. He joins Edwards, Eric Mangini, Ryan, Bowles and Robert Saleh. All had a defensive background. The only coach the Jets hired during this period with offensive experience was Adam Gase in 2019.

Johnson hired the 33rd teama football media, analytics and consulting group founded by former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum, to help them in November. They will now focus on appointing a new front office leader to replace Joe Douglas, who was licensed with the Jets on their way to a 5-12 season. Saleh was fired after a 2-3 start and New York went 3-9 under interim coach Ulbrich, who was hired this week as Atlanta’s defensive coordinator.

The main tasks for Glenn and the possible new general manager will be trying to put together a roster that will return the Jets to the playoffs after a long absence and determining whether the franchise will have quarterback Aaron Rodgers back next season. if he still wants to play – and perhaps beyond.

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