Aaron Glenn’s name may not stay attached to the Jets for long if their season keeps slipping away, and that could open a door the Lions ought to be ready to walk through.
New York is 2-5, and while that record alone might not force a coaching change, Sunday’s loss to the 0-5 Miami Dolphins could be the moment that pushes things over the edge. The back half of the Jets’ schedule is even tougher, which raises the possibility that Glenn could be out before the season gets much uglier. If that happens, Detroit should be one of the first teams reaching out.
Glenn, the former Lions defensive coordinator, has gone 5-19 since leaving before the 2025 season, with two of those wins coming against the same opponent, the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, Detroit has had its own issues under Kelvin Sheppard. The defense has struggled badly on the field, and Sheppard also drew attention for the wrong reasons with his comments to the media about his play calls.
That said, the Lions just had their best defensive showing of the season in Week 7, when they beat the Green Bay Packers and held them to 17 points. It was the first time Detroit kept an opponent under 20 points this year, and the first time it held Green Bay below 20 since Week 9 of 2024.
Even if Sheppard steadies things, Glenn still makes sense as a name to circle. Coaches often move into consultant roles, and the source article points to a couple of recent examples.
Mike Vrabel joined the Browns as a defensive consultant after being fired by the Tennessee Titans in 2024, and Steve Wilks recently took a similar role with the Washington Commanders. Those kinds of jobs usually keep coaches away from the sideline on game day, and in Wilks’ case, not even with the team on Sundays, since the focus is mostly on preparation.
For Detroit, even limited involvement could matter. Glenn’s presence in game-planning alone would bring value, especially if Sheppard needs another voice helping shape the defense.
The biggest reason is what Glenn did so well before he left. The Lions have been the worst team in the NFL against the pass this season, giving up 291.8 yards per game through the air.
The Jets, by contrast, are fifth in the league at 187.7. Glenn has also been exceptional at generating pressure, and New York’s 41% pressure rate - tied with the Seattle Seahawks for second-best in the league, per NFL NextGen Stats - speaks to that.
Only the Minnesota Vikings are ahead of them at 48.8%. Detroit has been decent in that area at 36.1%, but there still looks to be more production available.
Glenn was also one of the most popular defensive coordinators the Lions have had in recent memory. “AG” had a strong relationship with Dan Campbell, and players were clearly willing to follow him. If the Jets move on and Glenn becomes available, the Lions should seriously explore a reunion.
In Other News...
Cade Mays Gave Lions Fans One Worry And One Big Reason For Hope
Cade Mays first game with the Lions came with the kind of mixed tape that always leaves a coaching staff sorting out the good and the bad. In his Week 7 debut at center, he was part of a line that helped Detroit get off to a fast offensive start, and his presence showed up in the pass protection that kept Jared Goff more comfortable than he has been for much of the season.
The concern, of course, is that the Lions are still trying to settle the middle of the line while also figuring out how to get more out of Larry Borom in jumbo packages. Borom has not yet given Detroit the kind of reliable blocking it wants in those looks, so Mays debut offered a reason for hope even as it underscored how much work remains before the front five feels truly settled. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Packers Aftermath Has One Debate Green Bay Fans Wont Drop
The latest chapter in the Lions-Packers rivalry left plenty for Green Bay fans to argue about, especially in the wake of a game that exposed familiar problems on offense. Detroit came away with the better result in a 20-17 finish, and the discussion afterward has centered less on one unlucky bounce than on whether the Packers simply failed to do enough to win it.
A big part of that debate is the ground game, which never found much room to operate and has been a concern well beyond this matchup. Green Bays rushing attack was so inefficient that its season-long average sat at 2.9 yards per attempt, a mark that underscores how little margin the offense had once the game tightened up. From the Lions perspective, it was the kind of divisional win that comes from making the other side live with its own shortcomings. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Deadline Buzz Centers On A Cornerback Fix Brad Holmes Needs
The Lions have spent much of the season searching for help at cornerback, and the discussion around the deadline is already starting to sharpen around one obvious area of need. With November 10 approaching, Detroit will be one of the teams worth watching if it decides to add a veteran presence to steady the secondary for the stretch run.
One name that keeps surfacing is Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen, a player on a one-year contract who could become available if Philadelphia continues to slide. The Eagles have not played like a club comfortable standing pat, and if the season keeps drifting in the wrong direction, a move for draft capital would make sense. For Detroit, the appeal is simple: a chance to address a thin spot without waiting for the offseason market to do the work. [Read more 🡒]