Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has accepted the role of head coach for the New York Jets, becoming the first former player to return as head coach in nearly 50 years. Glenn, a three-time Pro Bowler, got his start in the NFL as a cornerback when he was selected by the Jets with the No. 12 overall pick in the 1994 Draft. He spent eight seasons in New York before being acquired by the Houston Texans in the 2002 NFL expansion draft.
Glenn turned to coaching not long after his playing career ended in 2008 and has spent the last four seasons overseeing the Lions’ defense. He interviewed with several teams before accepting the job in New York, beating out more than a dozen other coaches in the Jets’ extensive search.
Glenn takes over with fans desperate for change, replacing Robert Saleh, who was fired just five games into the season. The Jets’ struggles looked like they were coming to an end when four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers was brought on in 2023, but a season-ending injury in his debut in New York derailed those plans. The 2024 season wasn’t much of an improvement, and the Jets extended their historic playoff drought.