Jaguars 2025 head coach candidate profile: Lions DC Aaron Glenn

For the third time in 5 years, the Jacksonville Jaguars are trying to find a brand new head coach.

Large Cat Nation’s Jaguars head coach hiring course of tracker is consistently being up to date — however to supply extra data on the highest candidates being interviewed, we’ll be releasing in-depth profiles all through the search.

Subsequent up: Aaron Glenn, who interviewed with the group final Friday.

Different head coach candidate profiles:

Expertise

Aaron Glenn has been synonymous with the NFL for greater than thirty years. A Texas native, the previous defensive again who starred for Texas A&M turned a first-round draft choice for the New York Jets in 1994. He would play for Gang Inexperienced for eight seasons earlier than being drafted once more, this time by the Houston Texans as part of the 2022 Enlargement Draft for the newly established franchise. In a enjoying profession that spanned fifteen seasons, Glenn additionally suited up for the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints, in addition to one single season with the Jags in 2007. Amassing 639 tackles and 41 interceptions, Glenn earned Professional Bowl honors in 1997, 1998 and 2002.

Earlier than heading into teaching, Glenn flirted with a front-office profession, first changing into the Normal Supervisor of the Houston Stallions – an indoor soccer group – earlier than spending two seasons as a personnel scout with the Jets. Ultimately, although, the decision of the sideline was an excessive amount of, and Glenn bought his first position as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Cleveland Browns in 2014. He earned a promotion two years later, employed by the New Orleans Saints to be their secondary coach, a task he held for 5 seasons.

It was in New Orleans the place Glenn would meet Dan Campbell, who was Assistant Head Coach on the time. When Campbell received the Detroit Lions head coach job in 2021, he took Glenn with him to the Motor Metropolis to function his defensive coordinator. The pair have remained there since, serving to rework the Lions right into a Tremendous Bowl contender.

Efficiency

2024 Lions protection

Factors allowed per recreation: 20.1 (seventh)

First downs allowed per recreation: 19.5 (fifteenth)

Yards allowed per recreation: 342.4 (twentieth)

Yards allowed per play: 5.7 (twenty seventh)

EPA per play: -0.06 (seventh)

Success fee: 41.4% (joint seventh)

Passing protection

Whole touchdowns allowed: 18 (joint 2nd)

First downs per recreation allowed: 11.6 (twenty third)

Yards per recreation allowed: 244 (twenty ninth)

Yards per try allowed: 6.8 (joint twenty second)

EPA per play: -0.09 (third)

Dashing protection

Whole touchdowns allowed: 18 (joint 18th)

First downs per recreation allowed: 5.1 (third)

Yards per recreation allowed: 98.4 (4th)

Yards per try allowed: 4.5 (joint 18th)

EPA per play: -0.02 (joint seventeenth)

Quotes

Drew Brees reveals his choose for who needs to be the subsequent Saints head coach

Drew Brees (January 2025)

“He could be my high choose proper now… …The primary man who involves my thoughts is Aaron Glenn. Arguably, one of many best defensive backs to ever play the sport. I performed in opposition to him, I used to be a teammate of his too. He’s a pacesetter of males. He garners a ton of respect. He is aware of the sport. He’s extremely aggressive.”

Dan Campbell: It will be ‘ridiculous’ if Aaron Glenn doesn’t get a head-coaching job

Dan Campbell (January 2025)

“Aaron Glenn is — he’s pretty much as good a coach as you’re going to search out, he’s an excellent higher human being. Look, if no person desires him, I’ll take him once more. I can let you know that proper now. The considered going by way of one other cycle and he’s not someone’s head coach is ridiculous. I imply this man is pretty much as good as they arrive, and he can do all of it. He understands find out how to handle a recreation, he understands offense, protection, particular groups, he is aware of find out how to talk, he understands self-discipline of gamers and he’s motivating, he’s inspiring.”

Former Jets security Victor Inexperienced endorses Aaron Glenn for head coach position

Victor Inexperienced (January 2025)

“This must be our coach. He’s so actual and proper. Numerous coaches don’t have this mentality. I can communicate to that firsthand. Rent the person. I’ll [sic] come out of retirement.”

Obvious Pluses

• Extremely touted within the NFL ranks for the previous few teaching cycles, Aaron Glenn is taken into account one of many brightest defensive minds in teaching. The Lions have suffered a litany of accidents in 2024, not least to go speeding phenom Aiden Hutchinson, who performed in solely 4 video games this season – and but Glenn has been in a position to set up his unit as the most effective within the league. His 20.1 factors allowed per recreation ranks seventh this yr – up sixteen locations from a yr in the past. While the Lions reached the NFC Championship recreation final season, there isn’t any doubt they appear a extra formidable outfit this marketing campaign.
• Glenn just isn’t wanting character references. Because the quotes above allude to, he’s effectively considered by gamers and fellow coaches. An obvious chief of males with an sincere and revered communication type, Glenn already appears to be like the epitome of a head coach. At this stage of proceedings, and contemplating the quantity of interview requests, it’s extra ‘when’ reasonably than ‘if’ he lands a high job this offseason.
• Contemplating he hasn’t been a head coach beforehand, Glenn’s huge expertise of the league is spectacular. Having performed for 5 franchises and coached on three, Glenn’s networking within the NFL is unquestioned. There isn’t a state of affairs he hasn’t witnessed, an offense he hasn’t seen – Glenn will stroll right into a constructing as ready as you may probably be for a first-time HC.

Lingering Questions

• Glenn is so wanted, one of many largest challenges the Jaguars might first face is convincing him that Jacksonville is one of the best place for him to be a head coach. Firstly, two different groups he has performed for are in search of a brand new chief. One in all them – the Jets – was his first NFL residence, and the opposite (the Saints) is someplace he has already coached. Moreover, Glenn has seen what a cohesive entrance workplace and training employees appears to be like like, notably the working relationship between Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes. I think about he’ll have some ideas concerning the Jags retaining Trent Baalke and what that dynamic shall be like transferring ahead.
• While Glenn has been lauded for his man administration, it’s truthful to marvel if his protection’s efficiency on the sector deserves such benefit. Actually previous to 2024 – in truth, there have been rumblings within the Motor Metropolis earlier than this season that he might even be on the new seat. His unit was weak to large performs, one thing forgotten because the Lions had one of many best seasons of their historical past. While statistical output doesn’t at all times translate to a head teaching position, it’s normally what will get you an interview. Glenn shall be buoyed by this season’s enchancment regardless of some key personnel losses, however look a little bit nearer and there’ll nonetheless be questions on his go protection.
• With six of the Jaguars’ ten requested interviewees having no head teaching expertise, it’s troublesome to criticize Glenn for by no means having been on the helm of a franchise earlier than. However till we see it, it’s truthful to marvel how he would deal with the additional duty, and who he would carry over to run the offense and get probably the most out of Trevor Lawrence. If Shad Khan decides Glenn is the person for the job, he might need some time to attend, with Detroit taking a look at a prolonged playoff run.