A 2-5 record might not be enough for the New York Jets to fire head coach Aaron Glenn, but losing to the 0-5 Miami Dolphins on Sunday could have been the last straw. Their schedule is even less favorable in the second half of the season, so the Jets might show Glenn the door before things get worse under his watch. If he gets fired, 313 should be the first area code to appear on his phone.
The former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator has a record of 5-19 since he left before the 2025 season, with two of those wins coming against the same team (Cleveland Browns). With Kelvin Sheppard as DC for the Lions, there have been a plethora of problems, both on and off the field. On it, the Lions have been one of the worst defenses in the league in terms of yards allowed, and off it, Sheppard embarrassed himself talking to the media about his play calls.
Detroit would greatly benefit from bringing Glenn back, but what would it look like?
How Aaron Glenn could return to the Detroit Lions in 2026
Luckily for Sheppard, the Lions are coming off their best defensive performance of the season, holding the Green Bay Packers to 17 points in their week seven win. It marked the first time Detroit held a team under 20 points this year, and it was the first time it held the Packers under 20 since week nine of 2024. But even if Sheppard turns things around, Glenn should be brought back.
It's not uncommon for coaches to take on the role of a consultant. After Mike Vrabel got fired by the Tennessee Titans in 2024, he joined the Browns as a defensive consultant. A current example would be Steve Wilks, who recently joined the Washington Commanders for the same reason. These kinds of coaches usually stay off the field on game days, and in Wilks' case, they might not even be with the team on Sundays, as they mostly focus on preparation.
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Even if Glenn only gets involved in game planning, it would be extremely helpful for the Lions. Sheppard might just need more guidance, and Glenn would be the perfect person to provide it. So far in 2026, Glenn's expertise in defending the pass has been sorely missed. The Lions are the worst team in the NFL against the pass, allowing 291.8 yards per game through the air. The Jets are No. 5 in the league, allowing just 187.7.
Glenn is also a master of creating pressure on the quarterback, and the Jets are tied for the second-best pressure rate in the league with the Seattle Seahawks at 41% (per NFL NextGen Stats). The only other team with a higher pressure rate is the Minnesota Vikings (48.8%). The Lions have been solid at creating pressure (36.1%), but there seems to be more meat on the bone.
Before he left, Glenn was one of the most-liked defensive coordinators the Lions have had in recent memory. "AG" had a great dynamic with head coach Dan Campbell, and players seemed willing to do anything for him. Even if it's just as a consultant, the Lions need to seriously consider bringing him back if it becomes a possibility.
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