While most NY Jets fans were extremely pleased with the decision to hire Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as their next head coach, there are some scorned fans who are afraid of how similar this hiring is to when this franchise brought in Robert Saleh in 2021.
Much like Saleh, Glenn was an impressive first-time defensive coach fresh off turning around a 49ers team that had struggled prior to his arrival. Considering how Saleh didn't lead the Jets to the playoffs, some fans are a bit shy about Glenn coming to town under a similar set of circumstances.
Fans who are paralyzed by Saleh's scars shouldn't hold it against Glenn, as he is his own man who strives to set himself apart from the rest of the coaches who cycled in and out. For these reasons, Glenn will be a much different, and more successful, hire than Saleh.
3 reasons Aaron Glenn will be better than Robert Saleh as NY Jets coach
3. Aaron Glenn knows more about coaching offense
Glenn went viral on social media for his declaration that he is a coach, not specifically a defensive coach. This is a sharp chance from Saleh, who, from the jump, appeared to be totally invested in being a defensive coach and putting the offense on the backburner before Aaron Rodgers came in.
Saleh just expected a Kyle Shanahan disciple to work his magic. Glenn, who spent years around Ben Johnson in Detroit and Sean Payton and New Orleans, could pull coaches and assistants from across the NFL in the name of giving Rodgers an efficient attack with which they can roll over the rest of the AFC.
2. Aaron Glenn has a better roster
Saleh came to a roster that was as bad as could be in his first season, and being saddled with the all-time bust known as Zach Wilson didn't make things easier. Glenn is walking into a team that could start Rodgers, Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson, and Breece Hall on almost all of their offensive plays.
On defense, Glenn has All-Pros on all three levels in Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, and Quincy Williams. Glenn can spend less time on babysitting and development and more time trying to motivate a veteran squad in need of some fiery leadership. His first season could be much better than Saleh's debut.
1. Aaron Glenn has rebuilt the Jets before
Glenn is a great hire for this specific job, as he has been a part of Jets teams that won four games in two years. Glenn knows what the Jets could be at its best, and what needs to happen to drag them out of one of their worst funks in franchise history. Glenn gets this fanbase and what it takes to be a coach in New York.
Saleh may have been a bit naive when he joined the Jets, not realizing his defensive acumen wouldn't be enough to turn them into a winning team. Glenn, who has studied under Bill Parcells during his very successful tenure as a player, has rebuilt cultures for historically poor franchises in New York and Detroit. Can he do it again?
