What the Jets are getting in Aaron Glenn as head coach — plus what's next at GM

Garrett Wilson speaks from his heart. There’s never an ulterior motive. So when he lamented the Jets losing “gene” after a December overtime heartbreaker to the Dolphins, it illustrated exactly what the team needed to fix.

Now they may have a solution.

On Wednesday, the Jets hired Aaron Glenn as their next head coach.

There’s no shortage of hurdles awaiting Glenn once he formally takes office at One Jets Drive. He’ll need to figure out whether to discard or bring back quarterback Aaron Rodgers. There’s a slew of free agents he’ll need to replace (DJ Reed, Morgan Moses). Upgrades needed at interior defensive line, safety, receiver. All that pales in comparison to what Glenn must first do. He needs to shake the core of this team.

Ex-Jets coach Robert Saleh believed the best teams were player-run and player-managed. That’s true. They still need a leader, though. They need someone to set the tone, standard, hold those accountable. It’s then on the leaders of the roster to ensure that message is carried out throughout the locker room. This is where Saleh failed. It’s where the Jets hope Glenn thrives.

The 52-year-old was the No. 12 pick in the 1994 draft by the Jets. He went on to make three Pro Bowls. He’ll have a respect reserved for only former players. They know he bled for this game just as they are now. They’ll listen when he speaks because they know he knows.

But Glenn didn’t become a head coach by luck. He paid his dues there, too. He was a scout. Then an assistant with the Browns (2014-2015). A defensive backs coach with the Saints (2016-2020). Then the Lions coordinator where he helped turn one of the league’s greatest laughing stocks into a powerhouse.

The Lions finished this season 15-2. Their defense ranked seventh in points per game (20.1); this despite finishing the season with 12 defenders on the injured reserve. No matter the obstacle, his players seemed to overcome.

They were never better than in the season finale against the Vikings. Detroit held the 14-win Vikings to just nine points to secure home field advantage. Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold was 18 of 41 for 166 yards against Glenn’s defense.

The Jets want that energy, passion, and fight. It was lacking the last four years.

New York promised a thorough search before finding its replacements for Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, both of whom were fired at different points last season. They interviewed over a dozen coaches before hiring Glenn, the only one they brought in for a second interview. The Jets did have immense interest in Mike Vrabel. They made a last-ditch effort (personnel control) to hire him, too, but nothing could keep him from the Patriots vacancy once it opened.

The Jets are still looking to replace Douglas. Lance Newmark, Commanders assistant general manager, had a second interview with the team on Tuesday, too. Newmark and Glenn worked together in Detroit.

Multiple league sources told SNY that Newmark’s plan this offseason was to either follow Ben Johnson to the Raiders, or Glenn to the Jets. When Johnson took the Bears job, it opened the door for him to possibly join New York.

The Jets began calling coaching and general manager candidates to inform them they were going in another direction on Monday. Two of those candidates and one coaching agent told SNY that the Jets led them to believe Newmark was the one getting the job because they wanted to pair him with Glenn. There was a belief that Newmark and Glenn were equally committed to each other.

That is not necessarily the case, and the Jets will talk to other candidates before making a decision.

Now that Glenn is officially the Jets head coach, he can begin to piece together his staff. SNY reported on Tuesday that Steve Wilks is his top option to join him as defensive coordinator. Wilks has valuable experience in not just that role, but was also a head coach twice (Cardinals, interim with Panthers). His top option for offensive coordinator, also first reported by SNY, is Rams passing game coordinator Nick Caley. That might be a harder get, though, considering Caley’s close relationship with Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.

LaFleur served two seasons as the Jets offensive coordinator before he was fired and subsequently blamed for the offense’s struggles with Zach Wilson. The Jets traded Wilson a year after LaFleur’s departure. He’s served as the Broncos third-string quarterback this season.

Scott Turner, who served as the Raiders offensive coordinator, is also believed to be in the mix. The Athletic reported Klint Kubiak could be a candidate as well.

There’s no hiding from the rut the Jets find themselves in. It’s been 14 years since they last made the playoffs. They need a change, a spark.

Glenn’s first three years with the Jets saw much of the same struggles. He went 6-10 as a rookie. They were 3-13 in Year 2. They were 1-15 in Year 3. Then they hired Bill Parcells. It all started to turn around.

Glenn was a part of that rebuild. He was a part of that turnaround.

Now, 31 years later, he’s trying to do it all again.