For the third time in 5 years, the Jacksonville Jaguars are trying to find a brand new head coach.
Huge Cat Nation’s Jaguars head coach hiring course of tracker is continually being up to date — however to supply extra info 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 grew to become 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 Growth 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 gained 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
Photograph by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto by way of Getty Photos
2024 Lions protection
Factors allowed per sport: 20.1 (seventh)
First downs allowed per sport: 19.5 (fifteenth)
Yards allowed per sport: 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
Complete touchdowns allowed: 18 (joint 2nd)
First downs per sport allowed: 11.6 (twenty third)
Yards per sport allowed: 244 (twenty ninth)
Yards per try allowed: 6.8 (joint twenty second)
EPA per play: -0.09 (third)
Dashing protection
Complete touchdowns allowed: 18 (joint 18th)
First downs per sport allowed: 5.1 (third)
Yards per sport allowed: 98.4 (4th)
Yards per try allowed: 4.5 (joint 18th)
EPA per play: -0.02 (joint seventeenth)
Quotes
Drew Brees reveals his decide for who needs to be the following Saints head coach
Drew Brees (January 2025)
“He would be my top pick right now… …The first guy who comes to my mind is Aaron Glenn. Arguably, one of the greatest defensive backs to ever play the game. I played against him, I was a teammate of his too. He’s a leader of men. He garners a ton of respect. He knows the game. He is highly competitive.”
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 as good a coach as you’re going to find, he’s an even better human being. Look, if nobody wants him, I’ll take him again. I can tell you that right now. The thought of going through another cycle and he’s not somebody’s head coach is ridiculous. I mean this guy is as good as they come, and he can do it all. He understands how to manage a game, he understands offense, defense, special teams, he knows how to communicate, he understands discipline of players and he’s motivating, he’s inspiring.”
Former Jets security Victor Inexperienced endorses Aaron Glenn for head coach position
Victor Inexperienced (January 2025)
“This needs to be our coach. He is so real and right. A lot of coaches don’t have this mentality. I can speak to that firsthand. Hire the man. I may [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 move dashing phenom Aiden Hutchinson, who performed in solely 4 video games this season – and but Glenn has been capable of set up his unit as top-of-the-line within the league. His 20.1 factors allowed per sport ranks seventh this 12 months – up sixteen locations from a 12 months in the past. While the Lions reached the NFC Championship sport final season, there isn’t any doubt they appear a extra formidable outfit this marketing campaign.
Glenn shouldn’t be wanting character references. Because the quotes above allude to, he’s nicely considered by gamers and fellow coaches. An obvious chief of males with an sincere and revered communication fashion, Glenn already appears the epitome of a head coach. At this stage of proceedings, and contemplating the amount of interview requests, it’s extra ‘when’ quite 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
#Lions DC Aaron Glenn has declined an interview request from the #Patriots, per sources.
Glenn will interview for the opposite 5 head teaching vacancies over the following few days.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 9, 2025
Glenn is so wanted, one of many greatest challenges the Jaguars might first face is convincing him that Jacksonville is the most effective place for him to be a head coach. Firstly, two different groups he has performed for are on the lookout for 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 workers appears like, significantly 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 shifting ahead.
While Glenn has been lauded for his man administration, it’s truthful to marvel if his protection’s efficiency on the sphere deserves such advantage. Definitely previous to 2024 – the truth is, 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 huge performs, one thing forgotten because the Lions had one of many biggest 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 just a little nearer and there’ll nonetheless be questions on his move protection.
With six of the Jaguars’ ten requested interviewees having no head teaching expertise, it’s tough 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 accountability, and who he would convey 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 may need some time to attend, with Detroit a prolonged playoff run.