Jets hire Aaron Glenn as head coach

The Jets have agreed to terms with Aaron Glenn to become their head coach. Glenn, the 22nd head coach in franchise history, returns home to a Jets team he played for in his first eight NFL seasons and later worked for as a scout in the personnel department. Glenn, the former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator, is expected to sign his contract Thursday at 1 Jets Drive.

“I am excited to welcome Aaron Glenn home as head coach of the New York Jets,” said Jets Chairman Robert Wood Johnson. “Aaron earned this opportunity through nearly three decades of NFL experience – ten 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. “

Johnson led the search for a head coach and was assisted by The 33rd Team in a support role to help identify and process candidates in addition to coordinating interviews. Former NFL front office executives Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman spearheaded the project for the NFL technology and media company.

After announcing 16 completed head coaching interviews, Glenn met face-to-face with Jets brass Tuesday morning and a framework for a deal was agreed upon Wednesday.

Before starting his professional coaching journey, Glenn worked in the Jets’ front office as a professional staff scout in 2012 and a college scout in 2013.

“This place is special to me,” Glenn said. “From the time I was drafted and practiced on Long Island to coming back as a scout in New Jersey, this organization has always felt like home. I am grateful to Mr. Johnson for this opportunity. To our players, Prepare you on being coached with everything we have It’s our responsibility I ask that we share the same vision and that is to work towards winning a championship.

Prior to his first stint in coaching as the Cleveland Browns assistant secondary coach in 2014-15, AG played 15 seasons in the NFL. The Jets’ first-round pick (No. 12 overall) out of Texas A&M in 1994, Glenn appeared in 121 games with the Green & White from 1994-2001. His 24 INTs rank fourth in franchise history, and he returned three of those picks for TDs. Glenn is the only Jet with two 100-yard games – he had a 100-yard INT return against Dan Marino and Miami in 1996 and a 104-yard return of a missed field goal at Indianapolis in 1998. Glenn was a Pro Bowler with the Jets in 1997 and ’98, and he led the team in interceptions in ’96, ’98 and 2001.

Glenn spent the last four seasons in the Motor City as Detroit’s defensive coordinator. The Lions went 15-2 this past season, earning the NFC’s top seed, as Glenn assembled a lineup that lost five starters, including edge Aidan Hutchinson, DT Alim McNeil and CB Carlton Davis III, plus several key backups to injured reserve. The Lions finished no. 1 on third down (32.43%), no. 5 against the run (98.4 yds/g), T5 in INTs (16) and T10 in takeaways (24).

“Aaron Glenn is as good a coach as you’re going to find, he’s an even better person,” Lions HC Dan Campbell said of Glenn in January. He added: “I think this guy is as good as they come and he knows it all. He understands how to run a game, he understands offense, defense, special teams, he knows how to communicate, he understands the players’ discipline. and he’s motivating, he’s inspiring. I certainly don’t want to lose him, but I’m also rooting for the guy because I just think he’s a hell of a coach.