By Ross Jackson
Coaching searches are not a one-way street, a fact that is becoming increasingly evident as the New Orleans Saints’ search continues.
New Orleans is expected to be in on some of the cycle’s top candidates, including Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. However, recent reports suggest that while the Saints may be high on Glenn, Glenn may be higher on another team.
Per Brian Costello of The New York Post, Glenn has been telling people around him that the New York Jets job would be his top priority.
Costello recently wrote that Glenn “has told people the Jets are his first choice if he were to be offered a head coaching position.”
We have heard similar sentiments since the final week of the Saints’ season. Even other former Saints players have drawn these conclusions.
While many are using this as an opportunity to hold the feet for the New Orleans Saints to fire, the truth is that Glenn’s connection with the New York Jets run deep. Sure, their ownership situation isn’t the greatest, but the Jets are one of the most historied franchises and are the team that drafted Glenn No. 12 overall in the 1994 NFL Draft. For Glenn, the Jets are where it all started.
To be able to go back to that franchise and become the head coach that finally turns the team around is a very, very intriguing opportunity. Never underestimate the power of ego in the NFL. Every coach believes they can be the turnaround for any franchise that hires them. In a situation like this one, it could be a very hard opportunity to pass up for Glenn.
That could put the Saints in bind. However, there are still solid options available that should be near the top of their list.
If Glenn chooses the Jets, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson heads to the Las Vegas Raiders, former Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy goes to the Chicago Bears, and former Jets coach Robert Saleh joins the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Saints would naturally be a strong fit for Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
These kinds of reports rarely dictate a coaching search, so it means nothing until Glenn actually chooses a job. Even if the Saints were to miss out, there can still be an exciting future ahead of them with young, exciting offensive talent on their interview list. However, it has to be assumed that Glenn is still No. 1 on the list for New Orleans.
If so, this news potentially represents a bit of a gut-punch for general manager Mickey Loomis and the hiring committee looking to fill the team’s most important opening since former head coach Sean Payton departed in 2022.
