After handing the reins to Steve Wilks for the 2025 season, New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn will be the team’s defensive play-caller in 2026.
Speaking to reporters during his first training camp press conference on Wednesday, Glenn expressed why he is looking forward to calling defensive plays again this season after a year as a non-play-caller.
“When there’s an issue on defense, I can quickly fix it because I know the defense like the back of my hand.”
Aside from the play-calling element, the Jets’ defensive unit should be much improved this year.
Following a season as one of the worst defenses in the league, Gang Green revamped the unit this offseason at all three levels, with the headlining additions being defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, linebacker Demario Davis, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, along with second overall pick David Bailey.
Glenn called plays for the Detroit Lions in all four years (2021-24) of his stint as their defensive coordinator. Over his tenure, the Lions’ defense improved progressively, finishing 29th, 27th, 13th, and fifth per DVOA.
In February at the NFL’s Scouting Combine, Glenn touted play-calling as his “superpower.” If the Jets’ defense isn’t much improved throughout the year, that is a quote that will follow him all season long.
While he will be calling plays, it’s important to note that he will still need to be a head coach. He is juggling much more responsibility than he was as the Lions’ play caller.
That is where the role of non-play-calling DC Brian Duker comes in. Duker, 36, who worked on Glenn’s staff in Detroit, will play a prominent role in game planning and helping install the defense when Glenn is needed in different areas.
Overall, it’s on Glenn to prove that he can handle calling plays while dealing with everything else that comes with being an NFL head coach.
