​Following what had been a pristine 15-2 season in 2024, the Detroit Lions watched two pivotal coordinators depart. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left to become head coach of the divisional rival Chicago Bears, while defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn exited to take the head coaching job with the New York Jets. The fortunes of the two teams have diverged dramatically since that offseason upheaval. Under Johnson, the Bears captured the NFC North title and earned a postseason berth, dealing a sting to the Lions, who failed to reach the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Glenn and the Jets endured a trying campaign, winning just three of 14 contests and missing out on a postseason berth as a result. Despite projections that the Jets may face continued struggles, Glenn has been positioned by some observers as a potential NFL Coach of the Year candidate if he can lead the team back to the playoffs. Alex Kay of Bleacher Report highlighted Glenn as a coach whose candidacy could hinge on his ability to guide a resurgent Jets squad to meaningful improvement in the upcoming season.
“Aaron Glenn is a coach who has been slept on,” Kay wrote. “The New York Jets’ head coach sits in the lower portion of the odds board at around 30-1, but his path to the award is clearer than most. If he can steer Gang Green to a playoff appearance, he could be in a strong position to win.” Kay pointed to the precedent of coaches who lifted struggling franchises to award-winning seasons, noting Kevin Stefanski as a recent example of a coach who earned the honor after guiding his team to success in back-to-back 11-win campaigns and postseason appearances in 2020 and 2023.
Kay also noted that the Jets hold the longest active postseason drought in the NFL, a factor that could boost Glenn’s case if he can deliver a .500 season or better and secure a Wild Card berth. “New York hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2010, marking the end of their most recent run with Rex Ryan’s AFC Championship Game appearances that year. Given the Jets’ extended postseason drought, Glenn’s achievement may not require double-digit wins to be recognized,” Kay observed. “Glenn is the fourth head coach the Jets have hired since Ryan’s departure after the 2014 season, and he’s currently on the hot seat after a disappointing 3-14 debut. A .500 season or better with a Wild Card berth could solidify his position and position him as a leading Coach of the Year candidate.”
In the wake of that disappointing 3-14 campaign in 2025, Glenn acknowledged that the losses weighed heavily on him as head coach, taking responsibility for the team’s performance. “I put a lot of it on me, as far as the wins and losses,” he said in January. “And I’ll just say it plainly: I have to do a better job. I’m not going to place the blame on the roster or the coaching staff. I have to take ownership of the results and find a way to improve.” He emphasized a renewed commitment to accountability, development, and strategic adjustment as the Jets move forward.
The contrast between the two situations underscores how quickly fortunes can shift in the NFL. For Chicago, the Johnson hiring produced immediate postseason results and a division crown, validating the move as a sharp change at the top of their offensive apparatus. For New York, Glenn faces a daunting but potentially rewarding path: guide a team with a long postseason drought to sustained success, regain offensive and defensive cohesion, and position himself for national recognition as Coach of the Year should the Jets break through with a playoff run. The upcoming season will be pivotal not only for the Jets’ franchise trajectory but also for Glenn’s standing within the league’s coaching hierarchy.