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Some media insiders are really pushing Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn for the Jets job.
And some are continuing to push it, even after the Lions’ substandard defensive performance in their 45-31 playoff loss to Washington and rookie QB Jayden Daniels on Saturday night.
On Sunday, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports announced that Glenn is “at the top of the list for the Jets and the Saints.”
Jones also announced that the Jets are open to hiring a GM candidate who is familiar with Glenn.
But you have to wonder if the Jets will make it easier for the Detroit Lions to make a change at defensive coordinator without ruffling any feathers.
Could Dan Campell be looking to make a change at defensive coordinator?
Injuries or not injuries, that was a bad performance by the Lions’ defense, including a 12-men on the field early in the fourth quarter, on 4th-and-2, down three points, with Washington in the red zone, giving them a fresh set of downs, and they scored to make it a 10 point game.
There was another baffling 4th-and-2 play, when Daniels easily ran off right tackle for a first down after a fake handoff. Everybody bit on the fake handoff inside. How is that possible when you have a running QB like Daniels? That was a bad optic.
Some were thinking the Jets would lose some interest in Glenn after the Washington game, but obviously not. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garofolo announced today Glenn will interview for a second time with the Jets.
The media is pushing Glenn on the Jets, and my first thought was the teams should not listen to the media about coaching choices, but then I realized their two outside consultants helping them make the choice, are in the media.
As part of his announcement, Rapoport tweeted: “Aaron Glenn will have options and electing to do his first visit to the team that drafted him, where he was an All-Pro, is significant.”
Why would Glenn playing for the Jets, from 1994-2001, have any bearing on the Jets’ choice? How foolish it would be to make a choice based on that. That is amateurish to think that way.
He wrapped up his career with the team a quarter century ago and has had little to do with the team since. He retired as a Houston Texan after signing a ceremonial one-day contract. He played for the Jets for eight seasons and the Texans for three. Why did he do that?
But honestly, I don’t want to be a hypocrite, because to me it doesn’t matter which teams he played for, or retired with, because this is about hiring the best candidate possible – a brilliant football mind and alpha dog leader of men who will hold players accountable, something that was missing the last four years.
They need a coach so smart as a football strategist, chess player, that his brainpower will actually be responsible for a few wins. Maybe that is Glenn.
But when you bring somebody in for a second interview after what we saw in Detroit, in a game that a #1 seed at home lost to a #6 seed, some might argue you need to evaluate some of the evaluators.
Who decided to bring him in for a second interview?
If the Jets think Glenn is the best candidate to be their head coach they should hire him, but I’m not even sure it’s a slam dunk he would be back as Detroit’s defensive coordinator.
But if Woody decides to hire Glenn, it should not be for sentimental reasons because he played for them long ago, and seemingly has wanted nothing to do with them since his departure.
If they are worried about sentimentality, maybe they should bring Marty Lyons back to the broadcast booth.
January 20, 2025
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