The New York Jets just announced they are hiring Lions defensive coordinator, and former New York Jet himself, Aaron Glenn. In 1994, the Jets drafted Aaron Glenn with their first-round pick, now 30+ years later he is accepting the role as the 19th, non-interim, head coach with the organization. Glenn said this opportunity was his “dream job”, coaching for the team he used to play a key part for. And Glenn has earned this role. When he took the Lions DC job, he inherited a defense that was 31st in the league in points allowed, he leaves them ranked 7th in that category. Glenn gets his defensive prowess partially from playing under the Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells, who helped him to become a three-time pro-bowler in his playing career. This hire comes at a time of desperate need for a Jets organization who feels like a chicken running around with its head cut off. The Jets brought in veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers two seasons ago but lost him in the first game against the Bills to a torn Achilles. Rodgers rehabbed and even pledged he was working towards returning for the playoffs, but the Jets would miss the playoffs and Rodgers wouldn’t see the field again until the 2024 season. But Rodgers was making headlines due to his off the field antics rather than for his play on one. There were the rumors swirling around that he might run for the Vice Presidency with Robert Kennedy Jr. There was, of course, his retreat into the woods where he spent an undisclosed amount of time in a tree like a Keebler Elf tripping on ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic drug used for religious and spiritual purposes. Then we all remember Rodgers skipping out on mandatory mini-camps this preseason, but nothing happened in terms of discipline. The reason? Aaron Rodgers was given so much control over the operation, no one could challenge him on those sorts of things. The mess that was the Jets preseason foreshadowed the regular season to perfection. The Jets finished with 5 wins, 2 fired coaches and a 14th straight season without a playoff game. Five weeks into the season, the Jets inexplicably fired head coach Robert Saleh. Did Rodgers have anything to do with it? We don’t know for sure. What we do know is that when Rodgers wanted former teammate and wide receiver Allan Lazard, he got him. When Rodgers wanted another former teammate in WR Randall Cobb, he got him. When he wanted to trade for Davante Adams, the Jets did it. Oh, and Adams just so happens to be a former teammate of Rodgers as well. Rodgers brought offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett along in 2023, and the Jets kept him despite ranking 24th in total offense, 31st in rushing, 16th in passing and 24th in scoring last year. Rodgers was clearly calling most of the shots, so to say his hands are clean of the Saleh firing is tough to believe. Now, back to the other Aaron. Apparently, Glenn has made in known (through leaks) that he intends on keeping Rodgers as his play caller. If true, this already creates a bit of an issue for the Jets hiring committee. It’s hard to believe there are many prospective GM’s out there that will want to take over a situation with a 41-year-old quarterback who is clearly aging and has an unusual amount of control. A GM who takes this job will want to cut Rodgers and start new at the team’s most important position. So, Glenn will likely not get that wish to work with Rodgers. In terms of a hire for the Jets, I think this was one of their best options. Glenn comes from a place in Detroit where he saw Dan Campbell take an organization in a very similar state to Jets and elevate them to the top of the NFC. Glenn has seen what it takes to get to that level, now we will see if he has what it takes to do that on his own.