Just like that, Aaron Glenn made his first coaching staff hire, and it’s anything but conventional.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Glenn poached a man from his old team, the Detroit Lions, to find the New York Jets offensive line coach. Interestingly, it’s tight ends coach Steve Heiden who now turns his attention to the big heavies.
Playing days
Heiden, 48, is a tight end at heart. The Rushford, MN native was drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers.
Heiden played three seasons with the Bolts while playing his final eight professional seasons for the Cleveland Browns. In 11 productive seasons, the South Dakota State product tallied 1,689 yards and 14 touchdowns on 201 career receptions.
Four years after his final season as a player—in 2013—Heiden turned his attention to coaching.
Coaching career
Bruce Arians hired Heiden as an assistant special teams and assistant tight ends coach of the Arizona Cardinals, where he enjoyed five seasons (2013-2017). Ultimately promoted to assistant offensive line coach for the Cards in 2018, Heiden turned his attention back to his original love as Arizona’s tight ends coach in 2019—a post he held down until 2022.
After 10 years in the desert, Dan Campbell tabbed Heiden as the Lions tight ends coach in 2022. Thanks to the Lions’ somewhat surprising hire of former Jets play-caller John Morton as their new offensive coordinator, it appears Heiden was more than willing to take on a new challenge.
It’s important to note that this new challenge is not with Ben Johnson in Chicago.
Strange choice or forward-thinking?
It’s natural to see many onlookers raise an eyebrow or two at this move. Yes, Heiden is a tight end at heart, and he has much more experience at that position than anything at any of the five offensive line positions.
At the same time, any coach involved in the Lions’ dominant rushing attack under Ben Johnson deserves the benefit of the doubt and plenty of intrigue.
The New York Jets recently formally fired previous offensive line coach Keith Carter—most likely in conjunction with the new-hire movement—and this role has been a grave concern since Bill Callahan coached the big heavies under Rex Ryan in 2011.
Hopefully, for everybody’s sake, Steve Heiden is exactly what this organization needs.
