For a first-time head coach, Aaron Glenn has plenty of connections with Super Bowl leaders.

Bill Parcells, Tony Dungy, and Todd Bowles are just some of the coaches who have played a key part in Glenn’s rise to being the top man with the New York Jets.

They aren’t the only ones who have helped the 53-year-old, though. While Glenn has plenty of experience with the Jets as a player and scout, he also enjoyed previous stops as a defensive assistant and coordinator for additional teams.

His time with the New Orleans Saints and former head coach Sean Payton was just as important to the coach as any other stop.

As the Jets and Denver Broncos (Payton’s new team) get set for a showdown in London, the relationship between Glenn and his former boss has been brought into the limelight.

Glenn’s relationship with Sean Payton

After a short stint as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Cleveland Browns, Glenn joined Payton’s staff as defensive backs coach with the Saints from 2016 to 2020. During that time, New Orleans defensive backs like Marshon Lattimore, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Marcus Williams emerged as some of the best players at their positions.

Multiple playoff appearances followed, including a trip to the conference title game in 2018.

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Glenn’s five-year run with New Orleans was a valuable experience. As he prepares to take on his former boss this week in London, the coach wants to use that experience to his advantage.

“I owe a lot of my coaching development to Sean,” Glenn told reporters Wednesday morning. “He’s offensive-minded… taught me a lot about being a coach. He’s one of the guys that I love who he is and what he’s about. I’m looking forward to competing against him. This will be a competitive battle.”

Payton’s tenure as the Broncos’ head coach started off similarly to Glenn’s tenure in New York. Denver began with an abysmal 1-5 record during the 2023 season but battled late in the year to an 8-9 mark. The following year, Payton had the Broncos in the playoffs.

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Glenn hopes for similar results in the future. He has repeatedly used comparisons and conversations with quality coaches from his past to emphasize how building a team takes time.

Payton is one of those coaches that Glenn continuously touts.

With the two sides set to face off for the first time on Sunday morning, Glenn will have a golden chance to prove his worth against another mentor.