Tag: Aaron Glenn

Behind closed doors, the Saints admit they have to rebuild

Behind closed doors, the New Orleans Saints admit they have to rebuild. A messy salary cap spreadsheet and a four-year playoff drought are powerful motivators:

The New Orleans Saints have drawn a lot of ire over the years for their stubborn resistance to rebuilding their team. They’ve continued to push money into future years and max out their salary cap resources to try and compete. Now, depending on where you look (and ultimately depending on where the NFL sets this year’s spending limit), the Saints are in the hole by $54 million to $72 million.

But now it’s gotten to a point where they can’t ignore the inevitable. After struggling to keep their heads above water in a series of 9-8, 7-10, and 9-8 seasons after Drew Brees retired, they finished the 2024 season at 5-12. That’s their worst record since the Hurricane Katrina-impacted season back in 2005. It’s time for change.

And while general manager Mickey Loomis has pushed back on that notion publicly, that isn’t what he’s telling candidates behind closed doors. During a guest appearance on the Athletic Football Show, Dianna Russini shared some insight to the Saints’ expectations for their new head coach.

When asked about the team’s ledger and whether they understand they may need to take a year to untangle their salary cap accounting, Russini responded: “They do. And that’s been part of the conversations they’ve been having with these coaches that want this job. Which is, ‘We’re going to practice patience here, knowing that we’ve put you, if you were to get this job, in this position. It’s not your fault.'”

That situation isn’t for everyone. Candidates who are in great spots with elite young quarterbacks (like Joe Brady and Kliff Kingsbury) have chosen to stay put. Others have gone for greener pastures with more money to invest in their roster (like Aaron Glenn), or opted to wait for better opportunities to open up in next year’s cycle (like Mike McCarthy).

But for a young hotshot offensive coordinator like Kellen Moore, who got thrown out with the bathwater by the Los Angeles Chargers a year ago? Who the Dallas Cowboys moved on from a year before that? And who just saw someone in his same situation, Bobby Slowik, jettisoned by the Houston Texans a year after getting these same head coach interviews? The fit might make sense. Desperation is a strong motivator. It may be driving Moore to stay in New Orleans after the Super Bowl. And it may push the Saints to finally work on getting out of the salary cap mess they’ve made for themselves, too.

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Klint Kubiak is bringing a couple of key assistants with him to the Seahawks

Saints QB coach Andrew Janocko was expected to join Klint Kubiak with the Seahawks, but he’s bringing OL coach John Benton with him, too:

The New Orleans Saints lost offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to the Seattle Seahawks a week ago, and it was expected quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko would also follow suit. Seattle received permission to interview Janocko in a lateral move. On Monday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Janocko is joining Kubiak in Seattle — and they’re bringing offensive line coach John Benton with them.

Janocko has always been Kubiak’s quarterback coach. They were on the Minnesota Vikings’ staff together before Kubiak brought him to New Orleans. It would make sense for those two to reunite in Seattle.

Kubiak was smart to jump to Seattle. At the time, the Saints coaching search was still up in the air. New Orleans is now in line to hire Kellen Moore. Kubiak making that move may keep himself and Janocko employed.

As for Benton? He’s an experienced and respected line coach around the league, having previously worked on the New York Jets and before that the San Francisco 49ers staff under Kyle Shanahan. He did good work preparing Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning to swap positions last offseason, but a new head coach (Moore or someone else) is going to want their own support staff.

We’ll see who else finds new jobs in the days and weeks ahead, and whether any assistants stay on board to work under a new coach.

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Former Saints safety set to join New York Jets as special teams coordinator

Former Saints safety Chris Banjo is set to become the New York Jets special teams coordinator, reuniting him with Aaron Glenn:

The New Orleans Saints have another former player moving to a new coaching staff this offseason. One of their old defensive backs Chris Banjo has joined Aaron Glenn’s New York Jets to be their special teams coordinator. This comes after former Saints quarterback J.T. Barrett moved on from the Detroit Lions to the Chicago Bears to become their quarterbacks coach as well.

Banjo played for the Saints from 2016 to 2018, and decided to pursue a coaching career with the Denver Broncos under Sean Payton in 2023, staying there through last season as an assistant special teams coach. He performed well and has now received a promotion elsewhere, joining a former Saints coach in Glenn on the Jets, who was just hired as their head coach. Glenn worked closely with Banjo when he was the team’s defensive backs coach from 2016 to 2020.

The Saints connections seem to always find a way to get jobs together and find new teams to build out the Payton tree, and that has continued immensely this offseason.

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Seahawks QB coach Charles London joins New York Jets

Seahawks QB coach Charles London joins New York Jets

The Seattle Seahawks have found their offensive coordinator in Klint Kubiak, but now face filling a new opening on their staff. On Sunday, it was reported that Seahawks quarterbacks coach Charles London will be leaving the Emerald City for the Big Apple, as he is joining the New York Jets’ coaching staff. London will take the same position of quarterbacks coach under Aaron Glenn’s new staff.

London has been around the league as some kind of offensive coach ever since the 2007 season, bouncing between quarterbacks, running backs, and as a passing game coordinator. He is a veteran coach who has been with five different franchises, and the Jets will make it his sixth.

London was with the Seahawks for only one season, 2024, as an established veteran to help Mike Macdonald during his first year. Now, he will help another first time head coach, and given the perpetual dysfunction of the Jets franchise, Glenn will need all the help he can get.

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Dennis Allen credits new job to ‘a product of the same connections’

Ben Johnson began recruiting Dennis Allen late last year. Their shared connections to Aaron Glenn and Dan Campbell may have played a big part in getting Allen to Chicago

Dennis Allen recently told Jay Glazer he felt worse for the young coaches under his leadership than himself after the New Orleans Saints fired him. Allen was confident his connections through his decade plus career would allow him to land on his feet.

It didn’t take long for Allen to land on his feet. He interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts earlier this offseason and was named the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator this week.

Allen credited landing in Chicago as “a product of the same connections.”

Ben Johnson came from the Detroit Lions alongside Aaron Glenn and Dan Campbell. It wouldn’t be surprising to hear Glenn and Campbell gave Allen a strong endorsement. They worked with each other for years in New Orleans.

Beyond just New Orleans, all he, Glenn and Campbell all been attended Texas A&M. As you look back to Allen’s comments to Glazer, you can assume these were the connections he was referencing.

Johnson felt so strongly about Allen as his potential defensive coordinator that he reached out to Allen before the regular season ended. Allen said, “At some point as we got later in the season, he reached out to me to see if I’d be interested.”

Allen’s comments to Glazer happened after Allen’s conversation with Johnson. With what we know now, it’s clear Allen was foreshadowing his next move. It was just too early to say too much.

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Drew Brees gave the Saints some advice during their coaching search

Drew Brees says he’s given the New Orleans Saints some advice during their coaching search: ‘I lend my expertise or recommendations when asked’

Drew Brees may not play for the New Orleans Saints any longer, but he is still deeply invested in the success of the team. ESPN’s Adam Schefter asked if Brees would join the Saints again in an official capacity.

Brees responded, “I don’t know, we’ll see,” as a smile began to grace his face. “It’s in my blood, it always will be. And so whether it’s direct or indirect, yes I will always say ‘we,’ that’s my team, our team, I just take so much pride in what we built and what we accomplished.”

Here’s the thing, though. Brees still has relationships with people in the building, so his opinion is still being heard. It just may not be in an official capacity.

Brees was on record saying he wanted Aaron Glenn in New Orleans before Glenn joined the New York Jets. Those thoughts were put into the public, but also vocalized privately.

“Feedback? Look I always have conversations, I have conversations with everybody in that organization about any number of topics. Hey what are we looking for? Yes. I lend my expertise or recommendations when asked,” Brees said, putting plainly. You have to wonder what his thoughts are on Kellen Moore.

Brees is currently focused on getting back into broadcasting. Joining the franchises as a part of the front office isn’t a part of his mission and he doesn’t need to be. His opinion is clearly valued enough to give input without an official title.

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Jets hiring yet another former Panthers coach

The Jets’ new defensive coaching staff has added another familiar face.

The New York Jets and first-year head coach Aaron Glenn now have two former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinators on their growing staff.

According to CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones, the Jets are hiring Eric Washington as their new defensive line coach. He will come in under former Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks, who was added as the team’s defensive coordinator earlier this week.

Washington began his coaching career with the Panthers in 2011, when he was brought on as the defensive line coach by then-first-year head coach Ron Rivera. He’d spend seven seasons in that position before being promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2018 and 2019 campaigns.

After his stint in Carolina was up, Washington landed with the Buffalo Bills as their defensive line coach in 2020. He also served as Buffalo’s senior defensive assistant (2022) and assistant head coach (2023).

This past season saw Washington return to the Chicago Bears, where he got his start as an NFL coach in 2008, in their defensive coordinator role.

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Former Panthers interim HC Steve Wilks to be hired as new Jets DC

Former Panthers coach and Charlotte native Steve Wilks is back in the NFL.

Former Carolina Panthers coach Steve Wilks is landing in “The Big Apple.”

As first reported by NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero this evening, Wilks is set to be hired as the new defensive coordinator of the New York Jets. A contract, per ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, is expected to be signed on Thursday.

Wilks, a Charlotte, N.C. native spent a total of seven years on Carolina’s sidelines—where he worked as a defensive backs coach (2012 to 2016), assistant head coach (2015 to 2016), defensive coordinator (2017) and defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach/interim head coach (2022). The Panthers, in 12 games under Wilks in 2022, went 6-6 and finished one game behind the NFC South-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After parting ways with the Panthers following their 2023 hire of Frank Reich, Wilks was hired as the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers. But despite helping the Niners reach Super Bowl LVIII, as his unit allowed the third-fewest points per game (17.5), Wilks was dismissed after just one year.

He did not coach in the NFL this past season.

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Are Mike Vrabel’s Patriots or Aaron Glenn’s Jets the bigger threat?

Will either of the AFC East’s new coaches cause a paradigm shift in the division?

The Miami Dolphins will be facing two new head coaches in the AFC East in the 2025 season: the New England Patriots’ Mike Vrabel and New York Jets’ Aaron Glenn. Interestingly, both coaches are former players for the respective teams that hired them.

Vrabel spent six seasons as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, accruing a 54-45 record. He led the Titans to three playoff appearances, two AFC South titles, and a run to the AFC Championship in 2019. He will now coach the team he won three Super Bowls with during his playing career as a linebacker.

Glenn, a former NFL cornerback, spent the last four years on Dan Campbell’s staff as the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator.

After playing a major role in bringing the Lions from the bottom of the standings to championship contenders, Glenn takes over as the Jets head coach, the team he played for during the first eight years in the NFL. Glenn reportedly called the opportunity in New York his “dream job.”

While the Buffalo Bills have reigned over the AFC East in recent seasons, the Dolphins haven’t faced much of a battle for a second place. Which of these two teams with new coaches is the bigger threat of causing a paradigm shift in the near future?

The case for the Patriots

Vrabel is a proven coach who’s had success in the NFL. Vrabel’s Titans produced winning records in his first four years as a head coach until their championship window closed and the franchise entered a rebuild.

Now he’s joining a Patriots team that is a couple years into its rebuild and selected a quarterback of the future, Drake Maye, with the No. 3 selection in last year’s draft. They also have some established talent on defense including cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones, and defensive end Keion White.

The Patriots are currently projected to have the most cap space in the 2025 offseason with more than $120 million. New England has a chance to fill out its roster this offseason, giving Maye more help on offense while establishing Vrabel’s vision on defense.

New England is well set up in April too with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL draft along with a second-rounder and two thirds.

While the Patriots aren’t quite done with their rebuild, Vrabel’s experience and success as a head coach could spur a quick shift in the team’s mindset and yield a winning culture.

The case for the Jets

Glenn is taking over a Jets team that was expected to be a playoff contender last season with Aaron Rodgers returning from the Achillies tear he suffered on the opening drive of the 2023 season. Instead, the Jets finished 5-12 and fired both head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas midseason.

The good news for Glenn is he’s taking over a roster that already has elite talent on both sides of the football.

Glenn, a former star cornerback, will get to coach one of the best in the game in Sauce Gardner. The Jets also have fast rising pass rusher Will McDonald IV, who recorded 10.5 sacks in 2024, and linebacker Jamien Sherwood who was fourth in the NFL with 154 tackles. The Jets also secured three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to a deal through the 2027 season.

The Jets’ roster appears to be good enough to succeed and bringing in a coach with Glenn’s pedigree as a defensive coordinator could be the change the franchise needs to finally break through.

Prediction: Watch out for the Patriots

Even though the Jets currently have the better roster on paper, there are looming questions about the future of their key players. Aaron Rodgers hasn’t made a commitment to return in 2025. If he doesn’t, the Jets have no clear successor at quarterback. Rodgers’ decision may also impact star wide receiver Davante Adams’ future in New York.

The Jets also have multiple players nearing the end of their rookie contracts, including running back Breece Hall, receiver Garrett Wilson, and cornerback Sauce Gardner.

New York is in the bottom half of the league in cap space and is projected to have just about $20 million this offseason. This combined with the uncertainty of Rodgers’ and Adams’ future makes it hard to imagine the Jets significantly improving a roster that went 5-12 last season, unless they land impact players in the upcoming NFL draft.

New England, on the other hand, has a lot of potential to improve its roster in free agency and the draft. Adding players on offense will help Drake Maye take a step in his development in year two and further solidify him as the Patriots’ future franchise quarterback.

The Patriots wouldn’t have given up on former head coach Jerrod Mayo after one season unless they believed Vrabel’s availability was too good to pass up on. New England is bringing in an experienced head coach who’s had prior success in Tennessee.

With a head coach and quarterback in place, New England can shift its focus to free agency and the draft to build a playoff caliber roster. Considering the Patriots’ cap space and high-quality draft picks, there is a chance they could make a significant jump in the standings if their offseason decisions pan out. It would not be a surprise if New England doesn’t take look to get back to being a force in the AFC.

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New Jets HC Aaron Glenn implies he never truly considered Saints job

Newly-appointed Jets head coach Aaron Glenn implied that he only ever wanted to end up in New York, leaving the Saints in the dust:

The New Orleans Saints had a ton of interest in bringing in Aaron Glenn to be their next head coach. While he did meet with the team, it appears that the interest may not have been entirely mutual.

Seeing as though Glenn chose the New York Jets at his first chance, it is clear that they were his top choice. In his introductory press conference, though, it appears that they were the only team he really considered:

I interviewed for a number of them, but I wanted this job. When I was going to my second interview, I wanted to make sure this is going to be the first second interview, because I didn’t want to leave the building without shaking Woody’s hand and make sure we had a contract. So I’m just telling you now, everything else was really out of it. It was all about the Jets, and it’s been that way from the beginning.

Glenn played for both teams, but did spend much longer in New York during his playing career. He was just most recently with the Saints, so there was some hope that he would want to return where he has some familiarity as a coach.

Instead, he was steadfast in his interest to go with the Jets and New Orleans is still scouring the market to find a head coach.

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