Aaron Glenn knows what he’s getting himself into and he’s ready for it.
Glenn has worked through the ranks since his playing days, most recently serving as the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator. Head coach will be the third position Glenn’s had within the Jets organization – previously holding the title of player and scout.
His passion for the team shined through in the first press conference.
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‘Put your seatbelts on and get ready for the ride,’ Glenn said to the current group of players. ‘We’re the freaking New York Jets and we’re built for this (expletive).’
Despite owning the NFL’s longest playoff drought – now at 14 seasons and counting – that didn’t deter Glenn from taking on the challenge.
‘I want this job,’ Glenn said. I interviewed for a number of them, but I wanted this one.’
Glenn later told SNY that he was focused on bringing a Super Bowl to Detroit but set his sights on the Jets’ job right after the Lions’ division-round loss.
‘I didn’t want to leave the building without shaking Woody’s [Johnson] hand and make sure we had a contract,’ Glenn said. ‘Everything else was really out of it. It’s all about the Jets and it’s been that way from the beginning.’
It’s been a full circle moment for the new coach, who spent a lot of time reflecting on his journey and where it began.
‘This is where I started and you can’t write a better story than that,’ Glenn said. This was my start for a number of situations. As a player, as a scout and now as a head coach. And you can’t write that story no better than that. Hopefully this will be my last stop. That’s the way I’m looking at it.’
He promised to change the culture and discussed his experience building sustained winners. However, he told SNY something notable.
‘Rah rah speeches don’t change cultures,’ Glenn said. ‘People do. I experienced that with Bill Parcells. You bring the right people in with the right mentality and everybody has a shared vision, you’re going to win games.’
Former Jets coach Robert Saleh was known for taking the motivational speech approach, typically with his ‘all gas no brakes’ mantra.
It doesn’t appear that Glenn will take that approach.
For a team that changes coaches like they’re going out of style, the Jets will hope their former player can finally calm what has been a turbulent flight.