Aaron Glenn
American football player and coach (born 1972)
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Aaron Devone Glenn (born July 16, 1972) is an American professional football coach and former cornerback who is the head coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions from 2021 to 2024, the defensive backs coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2016 to 2020, and as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2014 to 2015.
Humble, Texas, U.S.
Glenn with the New York Jets in 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| New York Jets | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Head coach | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | July 16, 1972 Humble, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 183 lb (83 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| Position | Cornerback (No. 31, 26) | ||||||||||||||
| High school | Nimitz (Houston, Texas) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Navarro (1990–1991) Texas A&M (1992–1993) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1994: 1st round, 12th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Expansion draft | 2002: 1st round, 3rd overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||||||||
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Operations | |||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||||||||||
| Regular season | 3–14 (.176) | ||||||||||||||
| Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference | |||||||||||||||
Glenn played 15 seasons in the NFL. During his playing time, Glenn played for the New York Jets, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies. His younger brother Jason Glenn played in the NFL from 2001 to 2006, with the Jets, Dolphins, and Vikings, and the two brothers were teammates during Jason's rookie season.
Early life
Glenn was born in Humble, Texas.[1] He played youth football in the Humble Area Football League.[2] He attended Nimitz High School in Houston, Texas,[3] where he was a four-year letterman for the Nimitz Cougars high school football team. As a senior, he posted over 1,000 rushing yards, over 200 receiving yards and seven interceptions. Glenn also lettered in basketball and track.[citation needed]
Playing career
College
Glenn originally signed his letter of intent to play college football for the Purdue Boilermakers in 1990.[4]
Glenn first attended Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas,[5] where as a sophomore, he won all-conference and junior college All-America honors, after posting two interceptions, 60 tackles, and 15 pass deflections.
Glenn then transferred to Texas A&M University, where he played for the Aggies in 1992 and 1993.[6] As a junior in 1992, he was the Southwest Conference (SWC) Newcomer of the Year and a first-team All-Southwest Conference selection.
As a senior in 1993, he registered 27 tackles, 13 passes defensed and led the nation with a 19.2-yard punt return average, while receiving first-team All-SWC and a consensus first-team All-American honors.[7]
In 2000, he was inducted into the Texas A&M Sports Hall of Fame.[8]
National Football League
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | Vertical jump | Bench press | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1.74 m) | 184 lb (83 kg) | 30 in (0.76 m) | 8+7⁄8 in (0.23 m) | 4.39 s | 40.0 in (1.02 m) | 9 reps | ||||||
| All values from NFL Combine[9][10] | ||||||||||||
New York Jets
The New York Jets selected Glenn in the first round (12th overall) of the 1994 NFL draft.[11] He played his first eight seasons in the NFL with the Jets, from 1994 to 2001.[12] In 1996, Glenn set the team record for longest interception return with a 100-yard touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.[13]
In 2001, Glenn started 12 games, missing three contests with a sprained knee. He had 39 tackles and 14 pass deflections, which led the team.[14]
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans selected Glenn through the 2002 NFL expansion draft.[15] He started 16 games at left cornerback, registering 75 tackles, five interceptions, 16 passes defensed and one sack. Glenn and teammate Gary Walker became the first Texans players to reach the NFL Pro Bowl in 2002.[16]
In 2003, Glenn started 11 games and was declared inactive in two because of injury before being placed on the injured reserve list for the final three contests. He finished with 29 tackles, one interception and 16 passes defensed. The next year, Glenn started 16 games, with five interceptions and 14 passes defensed. He was released for salary cap reasons on April 26, 2005.[17]
Dallas Cowboys
Glenn signed with the Dallas Cowboys before the 2005 season, reuniting him with Bill Parcells, who was his head coach with the New York Jets.[18] Coming in as a 33 year old free agent, he surprised observers with his high level of play. Although he was projected to be involved only on the nickel defense, he started seven games in place of an injured Anthony Henry and recorded four interceptions to lead the team.[19]
The next year, Glenn played in 16 games (one start) and was used mostly on the nickel defense, registering 20 tackles with one interception. In 2007, Wade Phillips was hired as the new head coach and released Glenn on September 1.[20]
Jacksonville Jaguars
On September 3, 2007, Glenn signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[21] He played in five games (four starts) and was declared inactive for eleven regular season games and two playoff games.[22]
New Orleans Saints
Glenn signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints on April 7, 2008.[23] He injured his ankle during the second game of the season, which limited his playing time until being placed on the injured reserve list on November 27.[24]
NFL career statistics
| Year | Team | GP | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | |||
| 1994 | NYJ | 15 | 66 | 56 | 10 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 1995 | NYJ | 16 | 50 | 40 | 10 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 15 |
| 1996 | NYJ | 16 | 42 | 36 | 6 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 113 | 28 | 100 | 2 | 13 |
| 1997 | NYJ | 16 | 65 | 54 | 11 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 11 |
| 1998 | NYJ | 13 | 48 | 47 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 23 | 4 | 26 | 0 | 11 |
| 1999 | NYJ | 16 | 51 | 46 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 11 |
| 2000 | NYJ | 16 | 37 | 28 | 9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 34 | 9 | 34 | 0 | 14 |
| 2001 | NYJ | 13 | 33 | 27 | 6 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 82 | 16 | 60 | 1 | 14 |
| 2002 | HOU | 16 | 67 | 56 | 11 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 181 | 36 | 70 | 2 | 18 |
| 2003 | HOU | 11 | 35 | 29 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2004 | HOU | 16 | 63 | 55 | 8 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 40 | 8 | 23 | 0 | 14 |
| 2005 | DAL | 16 | 32 | 29 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
| 2006 | DAL | 16 | 22 | 20 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 2007 | JAX | 5 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 1 | 1 |
| 2008 | NO | 4 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Career[25] | 205 | 634 | 543 | 91 | 1.0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 560 | 13.7 | 100 | 6 | 163 | |
Executive career
Houston Stallions
Starting in 2012, Glenn held the position of general manager with the Houston Stallions of the Texas Lone Star Football League, an indoor league comprising exclusively teams from Texas.[26]
New York Jets
In June 2012, Glenn was hired by the New York Jets, his former team, as a personnel scout.[27]
Coaching career
Cleveland Browns
On May 18, 2014, Glenn was named the assistant defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns.[28]
New Orleans Saints
On January 13, 2016, Glenn was hired by the New Orleans Saints as their secondary coach.[29]
Detroit Lions
On January 23, 2021, Glenn was hired by the Detroit Lions as their defensive coordinator under head coach Dan Campbell.[30][31]
On February 24, 2023, Glenn signed a multi–year contract extension with the Lions.[32] The following season, he led the defense to the second-fewest rushing yards allowed in the NFL.[33] In the 2024 season, his defensive unit finished tied for second in the league for fewest passing touchdowns allowed.[34]
New York Jets
On January 22, 2025, Glenn was hired as the head coach of the New York Jets.[35] The Jets started off the season 0–7, before securing consecutive victories in weeks 8 and 10 over the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns. The Jets finished in last place in the AFC East with a 3–14 record, and became the first team to end the regular season without a defensive interception since the statistic began being tracked in 1933.[36] Following his initial season, Glenn had fired both his offensive and defensive coordinators, Tanner Engstrand and Steve Wilks.[37][38]
On January 28, 2026, he hired Brian Duker, former Miami Dolphins secondary coach, as his new defensive coordinator.[39] A week later, he hired Frank Reich, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers, as his new offensive coordinator.[40]