Lions' DC Aaron Glenn Lands Jets HC Job: Inside the 5-Year Deal

The New York Jets are bringing home a familiar face, hiring Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as their new head coach on a five-year deal through 2029, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Glenn, 52, returns to the team where he earned two Pro Bowl selections as a cornerback (1994-2001), aiming to end the Jets' 13-year playoff drought. His hiring comes after transforming Detroit's defense into a top-10 scoring unit in 2024, despite losing star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson and several key defenders to injuries.

"This is a full-circle moment," Glenn said. "The Jets gave me my first NFL opportunity as a player, and now I get to lead this historic franchise back to prominence."

The Lions will receive valuable compensation, earning third-round draft picks in both 2025 and 2026. Glenn's staff is already taking shape, with former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks emerging as a strong candidate to join the organization.

Glenn inherits a Jets team that finished 5-12 in 2024, including a 3-9 record under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich following Robert Saleh's midseason dismissal. The veteran coach's first task will be maximizing a roster featuring four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who's returning from an Achilles injury that derailed New York's 2024 campaign.

Before his successful three-year stint in Detroit, Glenn built his coaching resume as defensive backs coach for the New Orleans Saints (2016-2020) and Cleveland Browns (2014-2015). His 15-year playing career included stops with the Texans, Cowboys, Jaguars, and Saints.