Aaron Glenn’s recent schedule has turned into a rapid tour through his Detroit Lions coaching past, and the New York Jets coach faces another familiar opponent Sunday when Ben Johnson’s Chicago Bears come to town.
Glenn prepares for another Lions reunion
Glenn returned to Detroit in Week 3 and watched his Jets fall 31-24 to Dan Campbell’s Lions. One week later, he will match up with Johnson, the former Detroit offensive coordinator who now leads the Bears.
The two coaches spent years competing against one another on the Lions’ practice fields, with Glenn running Detroit’s defense and Johnson directing the offense. Glenn said those internal battles sharpened both staffs.
“We competed hard in move-the-ball situations and in the ways we tried to attack each other,” Glenn said. “It made both of us better. He’s a damn good coach.”
- Week 3: Glenn’s Jets lost 31-24 at Detroit.
- Week 4: New York faces Johnson and the Bears.
- Week 5: The Jets are scheduled to meet the Cleveland Browns, where former Lions running backs coach Duce Staley holds the same position.
The competitive nature of Detroit’s practices was well documented during the Lions’ appearance on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” in 2022. Glenn and Staley were among the coaches prominently involved in the lively on-field exchanges.
Detroit connections shaped both head coaches
Campbell’s rise with the Lions helped create opportunities for members of his staff around the league. Johnson and Glenn both moved on to head-coaching jobs, though Johnson’s Bears have reached milestones Glenn is still pursuing with the Jets.
Johnson already has a 2025 division championship and a playoff victory as Chicago’s coach. Glenn, now in his second year leading New York, is trying to establish the same type of turnaround after a difficult 2025 campaign.
Glenn pointed to the detailed communication he shared with Johnson in Detroit as an important part of their working relationship.
“When you’re the offensive and defensive coordinators, you’re planning practice,” Glenn said. “You’re mapping out what you want to see from each other, so our communication was always outstanding. Being able to talk offense and defense was valuable.”
Bears quarterback picture adds to Jets’ challenge
Chicago may not have quarterback Caleb Williams available Sunday. Williams suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2, leaving uncertainty around the Bears’ plans under center.
The Jets cannot assume a straightforward preparation, however. Thirty-eight-year-old third-string quarterback Case Keenum excelled against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, meaning Glenn’s defense could need to account for any of Chicago’s three quarterbacks.
- Williams is considered unlikely to play because of his hamstring injury.
- Keenum delivered a strong performance in Chicago’s Monday night win over Philadelphia.
- New York’s defensive preparation may have to cover multiple quarterback possibilities.
Despite the extra uncertainty, Glenn said his team is approaching the Bears as a major test. The Jets have been more competitive through three weeks than they were for much of last season, and consecutive games against Detroit and Chicago offer a clear measure of the progress made under his leadership.
“He has that team playing really, really well,” Glenn said of Johnson. “We’re looking forward to a strong week of practice and getting ready to compete against a really good team. Our players will be ready.”
