Three months after firing Robert Saleh, the Jets lastly have a brand new coach.
Aaron Glenn lastly returned house to the place his profession started after agreeing to develop into the Jets head coach on Wednesday afternoon.
Now, the actual offseason work begins for the Jets. They nonetheless must discover a new normal supervisor who will work with Glenn in hopes of turning round a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010.
Gang Inexperienced introduced Washington assistant normal supervisor Lance Newmark in for a second interview, however they’re nonetheless anticipated to conduct extra interviews with candidates.
Nonetheless, relating to the teaching rent, the Jets’ hiring of Glenn was the precise transfer for proprietor Woody Johnson each on and off the sector. It takes a novel individual to educate the Jets as a result of there’s loads that comes with that.
Glenn, firsthand as a participant and dealing throughout the group as a scout from 2012-13, is aware of that. He is aware of methods to take care of the distractions that include working within the New York metropolitan space and the scrutiny Glenn would face if he doesn’t produce on the sector outcomes. However regardless of that, Glenn nonetheless took the job, which says loads about him and his need to flip the Jets from a laughing inventory to contenders, very similar to he and Dan Campbell did with the Lions.
Glenn doesn’t have prior head teaching expertise however has worn many hats after beginning on the backside following the top of his enjoying profession. In 2012, Glenn referred to as then-Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum relating to alternatives to start his post-NFL profession and attended that 12 months’s Senior Bowl and NFL Mix on his personal dime. Many coaches can’t say they’ve expertise working each as a scout and coach, however Glenn can.
As well as, Glenn was coached by Pete Carroll, Invoice Parcells, Invoice Belichick, and Sean Payton. Being in a number of buildings and dealing for numerous coaches must also profit Glenn, who can add his personal fashion and taste to a Jets group in want of a makeover following a 5-12 season.
The Jets want a tradition builder like Glenn who can lead the crew to long-term success, one thing they’ve struggled with for many years. Since coming into the AFL in 1960, the Jets have simply 4 division titles all-time with the final one coming in 2002.
Campbell introduced Glenn to Detroit as his defensive coordinator in 2021. All Glenn did throughout that point was was enhance the Lions protection in every of the 4 seasons he oversaw the unit.
Regardless of accidents to go rusher Aidan Hutchinson (damaged leg) and defensive sort out Alim McNeill (knee, torn ACL), cornerback Carlton Davis (fractured jaw), and linebacker Derrick Barnes (knee, torn PCL and MCL), the Lions completed 15-2. They have been the highest seed within the NFC earlier than getting bounced within the divisional spherical by the Commanders.
Detroit ended the season twentieth in whole yards (342.4) and seventh in factors allowed (20.1). That was an enchancment from the 2023 season when the Lions allowed 23.2 factors per recreation.
Whoever the brand new Jets normal supervisor is, together with Glenn, they must determine whether or not to carry again Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers, 41, continues to be deciding whether or not to return for a twenty first season in 2025 and has no remaining assured cash on his contract.
If Glenn and the Jets determine to launch Rodgers or he chooses to retire, they must pivot as a result of backup veteran Tyrod Taylor and 2024 fifth-round decide Jordan Travis out of Florida State are the one two quarterbacks on the roster.
Gang Inexperienced will even must determine on if the crew will carry again Rodgers’ pal Davante Adams, who was acquired in a 2024 midseason commerce with the Raiders. Adams is underneath contract with the Jets for the subsequent two seasons, however none of his $72.5 million is assured, and he must be reworked if he needs to stay on the crew.
Then there’s Garrett Wilson, the Jets different prime receiver, who was noticeably annoyed about his function at occasions throughout the season. There’s hypothesis that Wilson may ask for a commerce or a contract extension regardless of presumably being underneath management for the subsequent two seasons. Gang Inexperienced may select to train Wilson’s fifth-year choice for 2026.
It doesn’t matter what occurs with Rodgers, Adams and Wilson, the Jets roster will look fully completely different in 2025. They’ll have $20.7 million of wage cap area, based on Over the Cap.
The Jets have 28 gamers scheduled to hit free company in March, together with starters D.J. Reed, Tyler Conklin, and Jamien Sherwood. Contemplating the shortage of wage cap room, the Jets may have points considerably enhancing their roster.
As well as, Glenn wants to rent a brand new offensive coordinator, particularly since he’s a defensive-minded coach. The Jets completed twenty fourth in yards (310.3) and twenty fifth in scoring (19.9).
Names that could possibly be in play are Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell and offensive line coach Hank Fraley.
NFL groups prioritize having a GM earlier than a coach as a result of that’s the one who often builds the roster by free company, the draft, and offseason trades. The Jets can have the seventh decide in April’s NFL Draft.
Glenn being employed is simply the beginning of issues for the Jets. However the franchise is hoping they’ll have an identical turnaround, very similar to the Lions have had every of the final two years.
