More changes are coming for Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets. The former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator parted ways with six more assistants Saturday.
Of the firings, two came on the offensive side of the ball with quarterbacks coach Charles London and pass game coordinator Scott Turner. On defense, the Jets fired linebackers coach Aaron Curry, defensive line coach Eric Washington, assistant defensive backs coach Dre Bly, and two defensive assistants — Alonso Escalante and Roosevelt Williams.
On top of those six openings, the Jets also need a new defensive coordinator. Glenn fired Steve Wilks following the season.
SI on Lions’ John Maakaron argued all of the openings on Glenn’s staff could negatively impact the Lions.
“Detroit has had to endure plenty of coaching attrition over the last two years, as last offseason both Aaron Glenn and former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took head coaching jobs,” Maakaron wrote. “Johnson also took multiple assistants with him to Chicago, including wide receivers Antwaan Randle El and quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett.”
More coaching attrition could be coming for the Lions if Glenn sees Dan Campbell’s staff ripe for the plunking again.
Could Aaron Glenn Hire More Lions Assistants?
As Lions fans learned last year, a big problem successful NFL teams experience is staff turnover under a head coach. It’s going to be a major issue for any team that sees both coordinators leave at the same time.
In addition to the offensive coaches that followed Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears, three assistants went to the Jets with Glenn last offseason.
One of those assistants was Bly, who received a pink slip from the Jets on Saturday. Back on the market, perhaps Bly finds his way back to a Detroit on Campbell’s 2026 staff.
But the other five coaches the Jets fired didn’t come from the Lions. If Glenn fills those openings with other Lions assistants, then there will be more coaching turnover in Detroit without obvious replacements to fill those voids.
Jets Pursuing Lions’ Jim O’Neil
Even before Saturday’s firing from the Jets, Glenn was a threat to poach a Lions coach this offseason.
Detroit defensive assistant Jim O’Neil is a candidate to become the next Jets defensive coordinator.
“One potential option that could be in play is current Lions safeties coach Jim O’Neil, who interviewed for the Jets’ defensive coordinator vacancy earlier this month,” Maakaron wrote. “O’Neil joined the Lions’ coaching staff two seasons ago, which marked the final year of Glenn’s tenure as defensive coordinator.”
O’Neil has spent the past two years in Detroit as a defensive assistant. O’Neil previously served as a defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns from 2014-15 and San Francisco 49ers in 2016.
From 2021-22, O’Neil was the defensive coordinator for Northwestern. In his 25-year coaching career, he’s also spent time on the Jets, Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills staffs.
O’Neil previously coached with the Jets under Rex Ryan from 2009-12.
Glenn posted a 4-13 record in his first season as Jets head coach. Given the poor record, pundits questioned whether Glenn would remain in New York for a second season.
He will, but he will likely feel tremendous pressure to get the team playing much better next season. To make that happen, Glenn will have to find the right people to fill the openings on his coaching staff.
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