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New York Jets News & Rumors

Jets HC Aaron Glenn Amenable To Aaron Rodgers Return; Rodgers Willing To Play For Glenn

January 26th, 2025 at 9:47am CST by Rory Parks

The Jets have their new head coach (Aaron Glenn) and general manager (Darren Mougey) in place. They also have 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers under contract through 2025. Although there is plenty of non-QB work for the new power brokers to accomplish – including hiring an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator – one can reasonably expect Rodgers-Jets rumors to begin circulating anew.

Before New York agreed to terms with Glenn and Mougey, Rodgers acknowledged that his future with the club would be up to the new hirees (though he also has plenty of say in the matter himself, of course, especially since retirement is a real option). According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Glenn is open to a Rodgers return, and the quarterback is likewise amenable to playing for the first-time HC (video link).

We heard back in November that the Jets were likely to part ways with Rodgers this offseason, a sentiment that was echoed earlier this month. After his first Jets campaign in 2023 was cut short after just four snaps, Rodgers played an entire season in 2024, though the results generally fell short of expectations. Additionally, due to the looming presence of a $35MM roster bonus that can be paid at any time prior to Week 1 of the 2025 season, it would be more expensive to part ways with Rodgers in 2026 than it would be if New York elected to move on now and avoid paying out the bonus.

On the other hand, it’s not as if the Jets have a young passer waiting in the wings, and their No. 7 overall draft slot may not be high enough to select one of the top signal-callers in this year’s crop absent a trade-up maneuver (and the 2025 class of QBs is considered to be a weak one anyway). And, since the Jets do have a number of talented players on both sides of the ball, Glenn and Mougey may feel that Rodgers, coupled with a non-Nathaniel Hackett OC, gives them the best chance to start their tenures out on the right foot by turning in a competitive 2025 season.

The relatively weak QB draft class could bolster the asking prices of several veteran passers who are likely to hit free agency. Rodgers would theoretically be among that group if the Jets choose to cut him, but recent reports have suggested he may not generate a particularly strong market. That could partially explain his preference to remain with New York should he opt to continue his playing career. 

In 17 games in 2024, Rodgers led the team to a 5-12 record and completed 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. That amounted to a traditional quarterback rating of 90.5 (just below league average) and a QBR of 49.5, which trailed the likes of Aidan O’Connell and Mason Rudolph.

Jets Hire Darren Mougey As GM

January 25th, 2025 at 3:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

JANUARY 25: ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted out the news that Mougey’s hiring has been made official. Mougey will team up with Glenn, the new head coach, to establish the next era of Jets football.

JANUARY 24: The Jets made their head coaching hire earlier this week, and their general manager vacancy is now set to be filled. After Lance Newmark appeared to be the top target, though, the team has moved in another direction.

Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports Broncos assistant GM Darren Mougey will be hired by the Jets. He was among the staffers who lined up a second interview for this week, so it comes as little surprise he is set to get the nod. Still, after Newmark looked to have a deal all but in place on Tuesday, this is a notable pivot on New York’s part.

The Jets were open to bringing in a head coach or a general manager first during the 2025 cycle, and Aaron Glenn wound up being the initial hire in the team’s case. The former Lions defensive coordinator has a history with New York as a player, and Newmark represented a familiar face with Glenn given their time spent together in Detroit. A natural fit was in place, but the Jets opted to conduct follow-up interviews with both Mougey and Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown before making a final decision.

Mougey’s meeting took place yesterday, and Troy Renck of the Denver Post notes he returned to the Broncos’ facility to await word on whether or not he received the Jets’ GM job. No subsequent reports have emerged at this point confirming Mougey has won out, and SNY’s Connor Hughes indicates he has not received finality from his sources indicating Mougey has beaten out Newmark and Brown. But provided the team ultimately announces this news he will be set to undertake his first general manager role. The 39-year-old has been with the Broncos throughout his front office career, so this will double as his first posting with any other organization.

Mougey quickly transitioned from his playing career to the scouting world as an intern with the Broncos in 2012. By 2020, he had reached the level of assistant college scouting director while continuing to rise through the ranks. Mougey took over as director of player personnel for 2021, and the following year he was promoted to assistant GM. After working under both John Elway and George Paton, he will now lead a staff of his own.

New York conducted a wide-ranging search for both the head coach and general manager positions, and in a matter of days both vacancies have now been filled. The quarterback position will remain a talking point until clarity emerges on the Aaron Rodgers front, and a number of other key priories – including potential extensions for cornerback Sauce Gardner and wideout Garrett Wilson – are in place. How Mougey and Glenn address them will be key in shaping the organization’s direction moving forward. Paton and the Broncos, meanwhile, will now have a notable front office vacancy to fill.

Via PFR’s GM search tracker, here is a final look at how the Jets’ process played out:

Nick Caley Top Jets OC Candidate?

January 24th, 2025 at 2:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets filled their head coaching vacancy this week by hiring Aaron Glenn. One of the next major dominoes to fall on the sidelines will be his choice for offensive coordinator.

[RELATED: Jets To Hire Darren Mougey As GM]

Prior to the Glenn hire being made official, a list of candidates to watch emerged on both sides of the ball. With respect to the OC position, Nick Caley was among them and to no surprise that is still the case at this point. Caley is the leading candidate to take over New York’s offense, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports.

The 42-year-old began coaching in 2005, ultimately working at seven different college programs. Caley’s first NFL opportunity came with the Patriots, and beginning in 2017 he served as the team’s tight ends coach. His eight-year New England tenure ended in 2023 when he was hired by the Rams to fill the same role.

For this past campaign, Caley remained in that capacity while also holding the title of pass game coordinator. Los Angeles ranked 10th in terms of production through the air this season, and Tyler Higbee‘s absence for much of the campaign left Colby Parkinson atop the team’s tight end depth chart. Caley helped the former Seahawk set a new career high in receptions and yards in 2024.

In the event he were to join Glenn’s staff in New York, Caley would take on play-calling responsibilities for the first time in his career. Considering Glenn is a rookie head coach, such a setup would carry a notable degree of risk. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if Caley does indeed wind up with the Jets as they look to find better success than Nathaniel Hackett (and, later, Todd Downing) could deliver last season.

Via PFR’s OC/DC tracker, here is an update look at the Jets’ search process:

Jets Hire Aaron Glenn As HC

January 22nd, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a spree of rumors, Aaron Glenn is signing up to lead the Jets. The parties have a deal in place, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports. This will bring the former Jets first-round pick back to New York. Glenn’s hire is now official, per a team announcement.

Bovada’s Josina Anderson reported earlier today Glenn had informed the Lions he would be leaving for New York, barring a snag. No snag ultimately took place, and Glenn will cancel his second Saints interview to take over as the next Jets HC. News developed Tuesday that Glenn had become the Jets’ favorite, and the team is believed to have offered a substantial deal to entice the former cornerback. This will be a five-year agreement, per Schefter.

Glenn, 52, spent the past four seasons leading Detroit’s defense and had been on the past three coaching carousels — despite the Lions not impressing statistically on that side of the ball until this season. Glenn managing to keep the Lions a top-10 defense this season, after Aidan Hutchinson‘s season-ending injury occurred in Week 6, burnished his HC credentials, and the Jets will be the team that commits to the veteran assistant.

Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell — a Jets Mark Sanchez backup in the early 2010s — has been linked as a potential OC option, while NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo pinpoints Steve Wilks as a “strong” DC candidate. Wilks had come up as a Jets option Tuesday, as the Glenn-to-New York buzz circulated, and resurfaced on the DC carousel earlier this month. Glenn has been linked to wanting an experienced DC option, which is interesting since that is his side of the ball, and Wilks would match that description. The former Panthers interim HC also led the Cardinals for a season and served as the defensive play-caller for the 49ers and Panthers as well.

The Jets chose Glenn 12th overall in 1994, Pete Carroll‘s lone season as their HC, and he stayed with the team for eight years. Glenn became a Pro Bowler with the Jets under Bill Parcells, helping their 1998 team reach the AFC championship game. The Jets later left Glenn exposed in the 2002 Texans expansion draft, where he was selected. After Glenn played eight more NFL seasons to stretch his career to 16 years, he returned as a Jets scout. More than a decade later, the team — despite having hired a defensive coach (Robert Saleh) in 2021 — will turn to him at a critical point. Parcells helped vouch for Glenn with the Jets’ Mike Tannenbaum-led search committee, Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager notes.

Earlier this month, the Jets made a late push for Mike Vrabel. But the ex-Patriot chose an offer to return to New England. Glenn, who intercepted 24 passes with the Jets, now returns to the Big Apple to help a team likely to begin a transition. The Jets are expected to release Aaron Rodgers, though the future Hall of Famer is not 100% out the door just yet. That said, Rodgers is not committed to even playing in 2025. Meanwhile, Glenn will head up a Jets defense that still features some young talent. The longtime secondary coach will get to work on mentoring Sauce Gardner, while his OC hire will be vital as the Jets likely search for a young quarterback after several recent misses.

New York has not enjoyed a steady quarterback presence since Glenn’s playing tenure, when the team crafted a Vinny Testaverde-to-Chad Pennington baton pass. Several draft choices have missed, and the Rodgers trade backfired, with the 2024 team somehow winning fewer games with the ex-Packers legend than Saleh’s 2022 and ’23 squads did with Zach Wilson at the helm. Woody Johnson‘s decision to fire Saleh after five games also proved the wrong call, as interim leader Jeff Ulbrich — who has since left to become the Falcons’ DC — did not generate a boost.

This is Johnson’s first HC hire since Todd Bowles in 2015. The oft-criticized owner had been part of Donald Trump’s first presidential administration, as ambassador to the United Kingdom, when the Jets hired Adam Gase and then Saleh. Johnson bought the Jets during Glenn’s playing tenure, but his reputation has steadily worsened since — with some hits coming recently. Johnson has been accused of meddling on a regular basis, to the point Madden ratings and his sons’ involvement in decisions and presences in the locker room have come under fire. Glenn is not walking into the most stable situation, but his history with the organization probably played a significant role in him signing on.

Vrabel being turned off by Johnson’s presence came up during this search, and the Jets were not expected to receive an audience with Glenn colleague Ben Johnson. Ex-Glenn Lions coworker Lance Newmark, however, has been closely linked to coming over from Washington — where he has served as assistant GM over the past year — to lead the Jets’ front office. It would be Newmark who would be positioned to work more closely with Johnson compared to Glenn. That partnership did not end well for Joe Douglas, who lost respect for the owner and lobbed anonymous criticism his boss’ way as his tenure progressed.

These developments, along with the quarterback matter, may raise the degree of difficulty for Glenn. The Lions, however, completed this decade’s premier rebuild effort after climbing from 3-13-1 to the NFC championship game in a two-season span. Detroit followed that up with a 15-2 record this season. The Lions’ divisional-round loss allowed for Johnson (Bears) and Glenn to be hired this week, as opposed to the No. 1-seeded team’s top assistants potentially needing to wait until after Super Bowl LIX to be appointed — like the Eagles’ coordinator duo two years ago.

Glenn helped develop Hutchinson, and safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph made substantial leaps under the former secondary coach this season. This came after Glenn helped groom the likes of Marshon Lattimore and Marcus Williams in New Orleans.

The Lions, however, ranked 31st, 28th and 23rd defensively in Glenn’s first three seasons; their defense collapsed in a loss to the 49ers in last season’s NFC championship game. Glenn helped generate a rebound this year (seventh), and his defenses never finishing above 19th in yards allowed did not impede his candidacy.

As the Lions will need new coordinators and potentially some new position coaches, depending on who Johnson and Glenn take with them, the Saints lost one of their finalists. New Orleans still has Mike Kafka and Anthony Weaver second interviews scheduled. But Glenn came up in every HC-needy team’s search this offseason. He met with five teams, declining a Patriots interview as it became clear Vrabel was heading to Foxborough.

While the Saints refocus, the Jets have landed one of the bigger names available as they attempt to end what has become by far the NFL’s longest active playoff drought (14 seasons). The Lions will obtain two future third-round picks because of Glenn’s hire, due to the Rooney Rule.

Jets Conducting Second GM Interviews With Trey Brown, Darren Mougey

January 22nd, 2025 at 10:03pm CST by Ely Allen

After the Titans and Raiders filled their general manager positions, the Jets were the only team still looking to fill a vacancy at that position, until the Jaguars made the move to fire their GM today. Now, the Jets have a bit more pressure on the clock if they want to make sure their top candidate doesn’t get hired away to Jacksonville. To that effort, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported today that Broncos assistant GM Darren Mougey and Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown will be brought in for second interviews with New York tomorrow.

Mougey and Brown both interviewed with the Jets on the same day for their first interview, as well. Mougey has been a fast riser in Denver, working his way up from intern to assistant GM. He’s provided the front office with a bit of continuity over the past few years, as he is one of the few executives to work under both former general manager John Elway and current general manager George Paton.

A Kansas City-area native, Brown is 39 but has been in the NFL ranks since 2010. Brown got his front office start in New England before joining Philly’s operation in 2013. He ended up spending six years with the Eagles, working his way up to director of college scouting. After a few years in the AAF and XFL, he landed with the Bengals in 2021. Brown was already popular during last year’s cycle, with the executive earning an interview with the Raiders while also landing on the Patriots’ short list of candidates, as well.

They join Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark as the only candidates who will have received second interviews so far. Newmark had been trending along with new head coach Aaron Glenn as the likely hire, but Pelissero notes that the team bringing in Mougey and Brown does not rule out Newmark as a candidate. Newmark was in the building with Glenn on Monday, and the team may just want Glenn to get facetime with a couple more candidates before making their decision.

Here’s how the Jets’ general manager search is shaping up so far:

Jets HC Aaron Glenn Eyeing Broncos’ Chris Banjo As ST Coordinator

January 22nd, 2025 at 4:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, Aaron Glenn has elected to depart the Lions and take over as the Jets’ next head coach. A shortlist of candidates have emerged for the offensive and defensive coordinator positions, and a target is now known regarding special teams.

Glenn and the Jets are interested in hiring Chris Banjo as special teams coordinator, Mike Klis of 9News reports. Banjo is currently an assistant with the Broncos, having taken a spot on Sean Payton‘s staff in 2023. Klis adds a New York interview request is expected, but also that Denver wants to keep Banjo in place.

The 34-year-old played 131 games in the NFL, including 39 under Payton with the Saints. Banjo retired after the 2022 campaign and immediately reached out to Payton to begin his coaching career. He was hired as an assistant on special teams, and he has drawn praise for his work since then. To that end, the 49ers recently interviewed Banjo for their own ST coordinator vacancy.

The Broncos saw assistant head coach Mike Westhoff retire midway through the season for medical reasons. The team then fired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica after being eliminated in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Banjo is a logical candidate to replace Kotwica, although his relative lack of experience could lead Denver in another direction. If an outside hire were to be made, though, the possibility will exist of every member of Westhoff-Kotwica-Banjo trio needing to be replaced in the same offseason.

As Klis notes, Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi remains a name to watch closely in this situation. Rizzi – who took over as the teams’ interim head coach to close out the campaign – is still in the running for the full-time New Orleans gig (something which is particularly true now that Glenn is off the market). Payton is reportedly trying to hire his former colleague, although other teams are also believed to be in the mix.

Rizzi’s future remains unclear at this point, but it will no doubt be tied to that of Banjo. The latter’s situation will be worth watching closely as Glenn puts his staff together and as the Broncos sort out their special teams setup on the sidelines.

Jets Submit ‘Substantial’ Offer To Aaron Glenn; Mark Brunell In Play As OC

January 22nd, 2025 at 10:22am CST by Sam Robinson

Barring an upset, Aaron Glenn is on track to become head coach for the Jets — the team that drafted him nearly 31 years ago. The cornerback-turned-DC has been connected to potential staffers, but confirmation of a hire has proven elusive as of Wednesday morning.

However, Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports that Glenn has given the Lions some notice about his plans. Glenn made it known Tuesday he was planning to take the Jets job, per Anderson, who does add the phrase “barring a setback or flub,” providing a bit of pause before the goal line here. Still, Glenn is viewed as the clear favorite to take over in New York.

The Jets have made Glenn a “substantial offer” to become their next HC, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, who adds the four-year Lions DC landed back in Detroit on Tuesday night. Although Jets ownership has offered recent reasons for hesitancy from HC candidates, Glenn appears near the end of this process. A decision is imminent.

Mark Brunell, who also enjoyed a stint with the Jets (albeit one of lesser prominence compared to Glenn’s), appears in the mix to become Glenn’s OC if/when the AFC East team finalizes a deal with its head coach of choice. Brunell would be part of Glenn’s staff if the high-end candidate had his way, Schultz adds, though this is also contingent on the Lions not promoting him. The Lions would be unable to block Brunell from becoming the Jets’ OC, as it would come with a play-calling role. Brunell has been Detroit’s QBs coach throughout Dan Campbell‘s tenure.

Brunell and Glenn did not overlap in New York as players, with the QB wrapping his career with the team in the early 2010s — well after Glenn left once the Jets exposed him in the 2002 Texans expansion draft. But the two have coached together for four seasons. Glenn has also been connected to Klint Kubiak, Steve Wilks, Nick Caley and Scott Turner as potential assistants.

A Tuesday snowstorm in the south also may impact Glenn’s Jets candidacy. The Saints have pushed back their HC interviews because of the storm, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The other team closely connected to Glenn, New Orleans had Glenn and Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver on its Wednesday docket previously. Those interviews, along with an in-person meeting with Giants OC Mike Kafka, are now slated for later in the week.

The Jets will naturally attempt to prevent Glenn from taking that meeting. Glenn, the Saints’ DBs coach from 2016-20, was mentioned as an early frontrunner with the NFC South team. The longer this process is delayed with the Jets, the murkier his future becomes due to the Saints’ interest.

Jets Moving Toward Aaron Glenn, Lance Newmark Hires

January 21st, 2025 at 11:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

11:12pm: It doesn’t sound like any deals will come together tonight. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, both Glenn and Newmark have left the Jets facility without deals. Connor Hughes of SNY.tv cautions that all sides will continue to talk, so there’s no huge cause for concern within the Jets front office.

4:45pm: The clear favorites for the Jets are known regarding both the head coach and general manager vacancies. Lions DC Aaron Glenn and Commanders AGM Lance Newmark are meeting in person with the team today, paving the way for a potential hire in both cases.

New York’s reported intention is to work out an agreement with Glenn before he leaves the facility; especially if that proves to be the case, Newmark could soon agree to take on GM duties. The two have worked together in Detroit, and Newmark is the only candidate so far who has met with the Jets for a second time regarding the general manager vacancy. This situation could produce a pair of hires very soon.

Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports optimism is building with respect to both Glenn and Newmark being brought onboard. An agreement has yet to be finalized in either case, but that could of course change at any time. Considering Glenn has already been in contact with potential coordinator hires, it would come as no surprise if he were to agree to a New York deal. If that does not take place today, however, the Saints will continue to loom as an alternative destination.

Newmark’s Commanders are one of the four teams still playing, but as the Titans’ hiring of former Chiefs exec Mike Borgonzi demonstrated, front office personnel are free to join new teams at any time. Coaches whose seasons have ended cannot do the same, but the Lions’ upset loss this weekend left Glenn (along with Ben Johnson) on the market earlier than expected.

The Jets have leaned heavily on The 33rd Team’s Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman to lead the search for both the HC and GM roles. Both processes have been wide-ranging, but further signs indicate they have come to an end. SNY’s Connor Hughes reports other candidates are being contacted and told they are out of the running, all-but confirming a Glenn-Newmark tandem will soon officially be in place.

Steve Wilks, Nick Caley, Scott Turner, Klint Kubiak Among Potential Aaron Glenn Jets Targets

January 21st, 2025 at 3:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

3:27pm: Saints OC Klint Kubiak is another name to watch on this front, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports. Kubiak met with the Browns for their offensive coordinator position prior to the team’s decision to promote Tommy Rees. He does not have a history of working with Glenn, but the 37-year-old would make for an interesting addition to the Jets’ staff if he were to be brought in.

1:14pm: Aaron Glenn is set to take part in his second Jets head coaching interview today, and he represents the team’s top target. A deal could be reached at any time as a result, and a few interesting names have emerged with respect to coaches who could find themselves on a Glenn-led staff.

On the defensive side of the ball, SNY’s Connor Hughes notes that Steve Wilks will be a name to watch. Wilks will be a potential defensive coordinator candidate for New York in the event Glenn is hired as head coach. The latter is currently the Lions’ DC, but there is of course no guarantee he would continue calling plays if he were to take on the Jets’ head coaching position.

Wilks has a coaching background dating back to 1995, and he has been on an NFL sideline for all but three seasons since 2005. The 55-year-old has been a full-time head coach on one occasion in addition to a pair of defensive coordinator gigs at the pro level. The most recent of those was in 2023 with the 49ers, a position Wilks took after he did not receive the Panthers’ full-time HC gig . San Francisco moved on from him after last year’s Super Bowl, and he was out of coaching for this season.

With respect to potential offensive coordinators, Hughes reports Glenn has been in contact with at least two candidates. Nick Caley is one of them; the soon-to-be 42-year-old is currently in place on the Rams’ staff. Caley spent eight years with the Patriots, with much of that time coming as the team’s tight ends coach. He continued in that role last year upon arrival in Los Angeles, but this season he took on the additional title of pass game coordinator.

Caley does not have experience as an offensive coordinator, but Scott Turner does. The latter is the other name Glenn has been in contact with, per Hughes. Turner took over as interim OC for the Raiders after Luke Getsy‘s midseason firing, and he has not been connected to any NFL coordinator vacancies in the time following head coach Antonio Pierce‘s dismissal. Turner is, however, a candidate to join Bill Belichick‘s North Carolina staff.

It remains to be seen (for the time being, at least) if Glenn will indeed be hired by the Jets. If that does take place, though, it will be interesting to see if the candidates he has been in contact with will wind up following him to New York.

Jets Schedule Second GM Interview With Lance Newmark

January 21st, 2025 at 11:47am CST by Nikhil Mehta

JANUARY 21: Newmark is traveling to the Jets’ facility today, Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports. That means his second interview will take place on the same day as Glenn’s; as such, a pair of major organizational moves could be made in the immediate future.

JANUARY 20: The Jets have scheduled a second interview for their general manager vacancy with Lance Newmark, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Newmark is currently the assistant GM for the Commanders, who he joined last offseason after 26 years with the Lions. In Detroit, he spearheaded scouting operations and roster management as senior director of player personnel, overseeing the team’s remarkable turnaround over the last few years. He also has experience leading the Lions’ Football Technology and Football Information departments.

Newmark’s tenure in Detroit also resulted in a strong relationship with both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, who emerged as top head coaching candidates this cycle. Johnson is no longer available after accepting a job with the Bears, but Glenn has continued to pick up momentum in New York.

Glenn is “very interested” in coaching the Jets, who are “highly intrigued” by the leadership and schematic advantage he would bring, per Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. He may be even more inclined to take the job if paired with a former colleague in Newmark.

The offseason hiring cycle is starting to speed up, so the Jets may need to move quickly if they want to hire Glenn and Newmark for their top leadership positions. Glenn is scheduled for a second interview in New York this week, but is also considered a frontrunner for the Saints job, while Newmark has also interviewed for the Raiders’ GM gig.

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