Aaron Glenn Looking to Potentially Add Ex-NFL HC to Jets Staff: Rumors

Detroit Lions DC Aaron Glenn reacting ahead of an NFL game.

The first big rumored addition to Aaron Glenn’s potential staff on the New York Jets has been leaked.

Connor Hughes of SNY said on social media, “If the Jets hire Aaron Glenn as head coach, a name I’ve heard associated with him as a defensive coordinator candidate is Steve Wilks. Long-time assistant with multiple stops as a DC who also has two stints as a head coach. That’s valuable experience for a first timer in Glenn.”

If the #Jets hire Aaron Glenn as head coach, a name I’ve heard associated with him as a defensive coordinator candidate is Steve Wilks.

Long-time assistant with multiple stops as a DC who also has two stints as a head coach. That’s valuable experience for a first timer in…

Wilks Would be a Strong Hire For The Jets

Glenn is doing an in-person interview with the Jets for their head coaching vacancy on Tuesday, January 21.

“Aaron Glenn is trending toward being their head coach. It could happen today if all goes well. There’s a reason why Glenn picked the Jets for his first in-person interview. He also likes the idea of working alongside former Lions exec Lance Newmark, who also interviews today for the second time. The stars are aligning,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini said.

“Something to note: There are many Jets players who have privately expressed excitement at the prospect of Aaron Glenn being their coach. If/when he’s hired, it will be received well in the locker room,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic added.

If he were hired, who ended up on his staff would be an important piece of the puzzle.

Glenn would be a first-time head coach and having experience would be incredibly beneficial

Wilks, 55, has been coaching football since 1995. He jumped to the NFL level in 2006. A longtime defensive coordinator who also has had multiple stints as a head coach and as an interim HC.

Other Potential Jets Coaching Staff Rumors

“One coach to keep an eye on for a potential Aaron Glenn Jets staff: Lions defensive assistant Jim O’Neil. Coached in Cleveland when Glenn started his coaching career. Was a Jets coach when Glenn was a scout. Has been a DC in the NFL. O’Neil came to Detroit in 2024,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic.

However, the most important hire for Glenn if he joins the Jets is on the opposite side of the ball. He needs a strong offensive staff to balance out his strengths and weaknesses.

Gang Green has struggled offensively for the majority of the last 14 seasons. That aligns with its franchise-record playoff drought.

That left fans begging for the team to hire an offensive-minded head coach this offseason.

Woody Johnson has only ever hired one offensive-oriented head coach during his 25 years of ownership. It went horribly wrong with Adam Gase finishing with a 9-23 record.

The Jets haven’t gone back into that coaching pool again. If you look across the league there are plenty of successful coaches from all walks of coaching including offense, defense, and special teams.

It’s ultimately about hiring the right guy.

Jets Get Great News After Ben Johnson Hiring

Former Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson reacting in the middle of an NFL game.

The Chicago Bears have hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their next head coach.

That is great news for New York Jets fans according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

“This impacts the Jets because there was talk of GM candidate/former Lions exec Lance Newmark going with Johnson to Las Vegas. Now the Jets can pair Newmark and Aaron Glenn if they so choose … if they can beat out the Saints for Glenn,” Cimini said on social media.

Everything is Lining up For The Jets to Get Their Men

There were three general manager openings across the NFL this offseason. However, only two of those openings also had an opening at the head coach spot.

That provided a potential clean slate for a new regime to come in. The Bears stuck with Ryan Poles so whoever they hired as head coach would be stuck with him. The same couldn’t be said for the Las Vegas Raiders and Jets gigs.

There was a fear that Johnson and Washington Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark could combine forces in Las Vegas. However, with Johnson going to Chicago, that potential reunion with Newmark is now off the board.

That leaves the door wide open for the Jets to close the deal on Tuesday, January 21,

Newmark and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are both scheduled to interview for a second time with the Jets in person on Tuesday.

If everything goes according to plan, the Jets can hire both individuals on the spot and close the deal before they have a chance to speak with anyone else.

Glenn Better Have Guns at The Ready

If Glenn gets hired by the Jets this week, he better have some answers to the staff questions.

Moments after Johnson was hired as the next head coach of the Bears, leaks have emerged on his staff.

“Ben Johnson has been busy assembling a star-studded coaching staff. The leading candidate to become his defensive coordinator in Chicago is former Saints HC Dennis Allen,” ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter shared on social media.

For Johnson, a strong defensive coordinator was paramount. It’ll be the opposite assignment for Glenn. He is a widely respected defensive mind, but his most important hire will come on the opposite side of the ball.

Glenn will face plenty of skepticism as the next potential Jets head coach as a defensive guy and someone who would be a first-timer at HC. A great hire at offensive coordinator would go a long way toward quieting the noise around him.

The Jets still don’t know what their plan at quarterback is next season. Aaron Rodgers must decide if he wants to keep playing football. If he does, do the Jets want him back? If not would another team step up to the plate as a potential landing spot?

The green and white will need another solution at QB if they don’t believe Rodgers is the guy. Regardless of who is playing QB, the Jets are going to need a play-caller that either has experience or upside and finding that guy will be Glenn’s first big challenge.

EYES ON SUPER BOWL: Dan Campbell Makes Bold Statement on Lions’ Championship Window After Heartbreaking Loss

After a disappointing end to the best season in modern franchise history, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell is back to work. Even with the divisional round loss to the Washington Commanders, he knows the franchise has what they need to bring Detroit the city’s first Super Bowl.

He spoke with reporters in Detroit during the team’s season-ending news conference Monday, as he mentioned his readiness to swallow the devastating loss and move forward.

“I’m back on my feet, ready to roll, and I’ve acknowledged, I can look in the mirror and say, ‘You know what, you failed, man. What are you going to do about it?’ So, that’s where we’re at and move forward, man,” Campbell said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Now, Campbell and the Lions must regroup and reload for the new season, especially with the loss of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson who was hired as head coach of the Chicago Bears Sunday. Detroit expects to lose its defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn as well. The New York Jets are heavily pursuing Glenn for their head coach vacancy, one of a number of franchises with which Glenn has interview.

Success brings change, and although the Lions didn’t get their Super Bowl this season, Campbell is confident their title window remains open.

“That core group is still intact and some of these guys are now — we’ve signed some back, some are up on contracts and that’ll be ongoing,” Campbell said, via the Detroit Free Press. “But yeah, we absolutely do [have a window to contend still]. And I think the most important thing is … you’ve got your culture, you’ve got your identity and you’ve got players that fit into that, and we’ve got that. We’ve got players in every pivotal position you can ask for to have success. And those guys are made the right way, so absolutely, our window is open.”

The Lions finished the regular season 15–2, the franchise’s best-ever record, and earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Although their playoff run was halted short, Campbell knows it wasn’t his team’s last shot.

Top Earners: Whopping Sum New Bears Coach Ben Johnson is Reportedly Getting Paid $13 million Per………

The Chicago Bears have hired Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to right the ship of their ailing franchise, and early reports suggest they’re paying him a pretty penny to do so.

Per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the “early figure” for Johnson’s contract is $13 million per season, $5 million more than the roughly $8 million first-year head coaches earn on average.

Though he has no head coaching experience or Super Bowl wins under his belt, Johnson was one of the most coveted picks this hiring cycle thanks to the Lions’ high-octane offense, which led the league in points scored this season. Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders were said to be interested, as well, but it’s possible that Johnson was enticed by the idea of working with and developing Chicago’s rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, among other selling points that brought him to the midwest.

For comparison against the 2024 season, Johnson’s reported salary would fall behind the Kansas City Chiefs’ Andy Reid ($20 million), Denver Broncos’ Sean Payton ($18 million), Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin ($16 million), Los Angeles Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh ($16 million), Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay ($15 million), and San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan ($14 million), but would come in one million ahead of the Baltimore Ravens’ John Harbaugh ($12 million), per Front Office Sports.

Especially if he’s getting paid like this, Johnson has a lot to prove once he takes the reigns in Chicago. The mandate is clear: the Bears will be looking for their first playoff appearance since 2020, and a better record than the dismal 5–12 with which they rounded out this current season.

Detroit Lions’ Head Coach Dan Campbell Crowned 2024 NFL Coach of the Year, Team Revels in Historic Victory and....

In a season that captivated fans and left a lasting mark on the NFL, Detroit Lions’ Head Coach Dan Campbell was named the 2024 NFL Coach of the Year, a recognition that comes on the heels of an unprecedented turnaround in the team’s fortunes. Under Campbell’s leadership, the Lions have not only returned to prominence but also rekindled the passion of a fanbase starved for success. The announcement of Campbell’s achievement comes after a remarkable season in which Detroit defied expectations, made a playoff push, and solidified its reputation as one of the most exciting teams in the league.

When Campbell took over as head coach in 2021, the Lions were mired in mediocrity, with a team that was struggling both on the field and in the standings. However, Campbell, known for his fiery passion and unconventional coaching style, immediately set about changing the culture. His emphasis on accountability, toughness, and grit, along with a commitment to building from the inside out, started to bear fruit in his second season. The 2024 campaign marked the pinnacle of this transformation, as the Lions finished with one of the league’s most impressive records, securing a playoff spot and leaving fans dreaming of a Super Bowl.

The Lions’ success in 2024 was built on a combination of factors, including Campbell’s deft leadership and strategic acumen. He managed to unlock the potential of quarterback Jared Goff, who had been seen as a question mark early in his Detroit tenure. Goff’s play elevated as Campbell’s system took root, and the Lions’ offense became one of the most potent in the NFL. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown emerged as one of the league’s top playmakers, while the offensive line, coached up by Campbell’s staff, became one of the league’s best. Detroit’s balance between the run and pass game kept defenses on their heels, making the offense unpredictable and dangerous.

On the defensive side of the ball, Campbell’s focus on toughness and physicality began to pay off as well. The Lions built a formidable front seven, with defensive linemen and linebackers wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. The secondary, although not without its growing pains, steadily improved under Campbell’s watch. The team’s resilience and ability to adapt were key themes of the season, and the defensive unit became a source of pride for the Lions’ faithful.

Campbell’s impact, however, went beyond strategy and X’s and O’s. His ability to connect with players, inspire them, and create a sense of camaraderie in the locker room was evident in every game. His emotional speeches and unwavering belief in his team’s potential set the tone for the Lions’ success. His “bite kneecaps” mentality, which had once seemed like a mere catchphrase, became the ethos that drove the team. It became clear that Campbell wasn’t just building a competitive team; he was fostering a culture of belief and resilience.

For the Lions, the 2024 season represented the culmination of years of hard work, and Campbell’s recognition as Coach of the Year was a testament to his leadership. The future looks bright for the franchise, as the Lions now stand poised to compete for championships. With Campbell at the helm, the Detroit Lions are no longer an afterthought in the NFL—they are a force to be reckoned with.