The 2024 season will serve as Aaron Glenn's 11th in the NFL as a coach, and his fourth season leading Detroit's defense. Glenn has more than 25 years of experience in the National Football League including playing, front office, and coaching experience.
"He's got great vision for putting a plan together," Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell said. "He understands football very well. And when you start talking about his leadership, he's one of these guys, he's special. He's special. He's got it. His ability to communicate, to relate, to push, to grind, to love, demand, he's got it all. He's an outstanding communicator, he's an outstanding teacher. I'm fortunate that he's on staff with me."
Glenn was part of a Lions coaching staff in 2023 that helped the club to a 12-5 record, tying the single-season franchise record for wins in a season. The 2023 coaching staff was the club's third coaching staff in team history to win multiple playoff games, and the first coaching staff to do so since 1957. Glenn's defensive leadership was also key to helping Detroit clinch their first Division Championship since 1993 and advance to their first NFC Championship since 1991.
Fueled by an elite run defense, Glenn's defensive unit was one of the best run defenses in franchise history and the NFL in 2023. The Lions only allowed 100-or-more rushing yards in five games that season, holding opponents to double-digit rushing totals in 12 games. This led the NFL and ranked second in franchise history in any season since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger.
Detroit allowed just 3.7 yards per carry in 2023, the second-fewest yards per carry in the NFL. Their run defense was also the best in the NFL in 2023 on first downs, allowing a paltry 3.37 yards per carry, excluding kneel-downs. Glenn's defense surrendered just five runs of 20-or-more yards, which tied for the second-fewest in the NFL. Since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, Glenn's 2023 defense allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards the club has allowed in a season with 1,509.
During his tenure in Detroit, Glenn's defensive prowess continues to be marked by player development. With youth on all three levels of the defense, players continue to see rapid growth within the defense. For instance, Lions S Kerby Joseph totaled four interceptions in the second season of his career in 2023. This marked back-to-back seasons with at least four interceptions to start his young career. Under Glenn's tutelage, Joseph is Detroit's first player since Bobby Watkins (1982-83) to produce at least four interceptions in each of a player's first two career seasons.
Multiple rookies saw promising first-year starts in 2023 under Glenn as well. LB Jack Campbell had a stellar first year in the League. He recorded the second-most tackles by a rookie in 2023 (89) and was tied for first for the most five-plus tackle games amongst all rookies. Meanwhile, rookie DB Brain Branch ranked second among all rookies with three interceptions, one of which he returned for a 50-yard touchdown.
In his first two seasons with Glenn, DL Aidan Hutchinson continues to shine as one of the top defenders in the NFL. Hutchinson's 2023 season saw him lead the NFL in quarterback hits with 23, while also finishing second in the NFL in quarterback hurries (67) and in total pressures (103). Hutchinson also capped off his second season with his first Pro Bowl selection. With the help of Glenn's leadership, Hutchinson owns the most sacks (21.0) by a Lion through two career seasons.
LB Alex Anzalone originally came to Detroit in 2021, also Glenn's first season overseeing the Lions defense. Since joining the Lions in 2021, Anzalone has 19 pass defenses, tied for the fourth-most among all NFL linebackers through the 2023 season. In his three seasons under Glenn's coaching, Anzalone has set single-season career highs in total tackles in three straight seasons. He is just the fourth player in franchise history to record multiple seasons with at least 125 tackles. He is the fourth player to do so in consecutive years since LB Ernie Sims in 2006-07. In 2023, Anzalone set new career highs in total tackles (129) and sacks (3.0), despite missing a game.
In 2022, a highly productive rookie class highlighted Glenn's defense, including Hutchinson, Joseph, LB James Houston and LB Malcolm Rodriguez. The group played a pivotal role in turning the team's record around, winning eight of the last 10 games of the season. In 2022, Detroit's rookies combined for 20.5 sacks, establishing a new NFL record for the most combined sacks from a team's rookie corps. In Glenn's second season as coordinator, Detroit also bested their previous franchise rookie record of 12.0 sacks which existed since 1987. The 20.5 combined sacks from rookies were more than double the second-most, which was produced by the New York Giants with 10.0 sacks from rookies. Additionally, the team's rookie class posted seven interceptions, tied with the Texans for the most by an NFL team's rookie corps in 2022, and served as the most by a Lions' rookie class since 1976.
As one of the most productive rookies of the 2022 season, Hutchinson was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month on two different occasions (November, December/January.) Hutchinson became the first player in franchise history to earn the award twice in one season. He was also named the NFC's Defensive Player of the Week in Week 11. In Glenn's defense, Hutchinson produced the most sacks in the NFL among rookies (9.5) and the second-most by a rookie in franchise history.
In Week 4 against Seattle, Joseph earned his first start with the Lions and finished the season as a starter on defense in the team's final 14 games. Being used in a variety of ways, Glenn helped Joseph earn NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting two interceptions against the Packers in Week 9. Joseph became the first Lions rookie to record two interceptions in a game since 1986. Joseph also became the NFL's first rookie safety to produce a season with four interceptions and two forced fumbles since 2007.
After beginning his rookie campaign on the practice squad, the defensive staff helped Houston develop into a productive pass rusher for the second half of the season. Making his career debut on Thanksgiving in Week 12, Houston generated 2.0 sacks against the Buffalo Bills. He went on to combine for 5.0 sacks in his first four games played with the assistance of Glenn and the defensive staff. Houston also started his career with at least 1.0 sack in each of the first four games of his career, becoming the third player in NFL history to do so. His 8.0 sacks tie for the third-most a Lions rookie has produced in a single season. Houston's tally of at least 1.0 sack in five of his first six career games also tied for the most games with a sack through six-career games played in NFL history.
Rodriguez became Detroit's first rookie selected in the sixth round or later to start in Week 1 of his same draft year since 1987. Under Glenn's leadership, he tied for the NFL rookie lead by producing at least one tackle for loss in eight games in 2022. His eight tackles for loss tied for third among NFL rookies.
Despite a young group in 2021, Glenn began his first season in Detroit by helping the team change its identity and narrative. Under his tutelage and extensive history coaching in the secondary, Glenn helped Lions CB Amani Oruwariye set a career-high in interceptions with six.
Prior to Detroit, Glenn was on staff with Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell in New Orleans for five seasons (2016-20), where Glenn was responsible for overseeing the secondary unit.
In 2020, the Saints defense was one of the best in the NFL, finishing fourth in yards allowed per game and fifth in points allowed per game. During his time with the Saints, Glenn's unit was a key contributor to the success of the club's overall defensive accomplishments. With his leadership, Glenn played an integral role in the development of many of the team's top defensive playmakers in the secondary unit such as CB Marshon Lattimore, S Marcus Williams, S Vonn Bell and CB C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
In 2020, New Orleans tied for first in the NFL in interceptions recorded (18), while the defense tied for the third-most (26) total takeaways in the NFL. In 2019, the Saints recorded 13 interceptions, with Glenn's defensive backs accounting for nine of them. By helping develop the defensive secondary to be a versatile group, Glenn's unit also produced seven fumble recoveries, six forced fumbles, and 3.0 sacks in 2019. Additionally, he had a helping hand in the growth of Bell, who totaled five fumble recoveries, the most in the NFL in 2019.
While coaching in New Orleans, Glenn helped Lattimore reach three Pro Bowls in his first four seasons (2017-20), as Lattimore led the team with 14 pass defenses in 2019. With Glenn's assistance, Lattimore continued to experience growth in his second NFL season in 2018. Glenn's defensive backs recorded 12 total interceptions, nine forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, and 3.0 sacks, while Lattimore led the team with five solo takeaways and added two interceptions in the NFC Divisional Playoff win over the Eagles. After the Saints acquired CB Eli Apple in the middle of the 2018 season, Glenn helped Apple establish himself in the backend of the defense instantaneously. In 10 games played with the Saints, Apple posted three takeaways.
Under Glenn's tutelage, Lattimore generated a historic rookie season in 2017, where he started in 12 games and lead all NFL rookies with a team-high five interceptions. Lattimore also tied the rookie lead with a team-best 18 pass defenses and became the youngest Saints player to be selected to the Pro Bowl and the franchise's first AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Prior to his time in New Orleans, Glenn served as an assistant secondary coach with the Cleveland Browns from 2014-15. In his first year in Cleveland, Glenn worked with a secondary unit that earned three Pro Bowl nods in S Tashaun Gipson, CB Joe Haden and S Donte Whitner. The 2014 season marked the first time in team history that the Browns had three defensive backs selected to the Pro Bowl. Cleveland led the NFL in opponent passer rating (74.1), completion percentage (57.1) and pass defenses (99). Additionally, the Browns finished second in the NFL with 21 interceptions, the team's highest total since 2008. They also finished ranked fifth in the League in yards per pass attempt (6.44), fifth in red zone defense (46.3) and ninth in points per game (21.1). The Browns defense was the only one in the NFL to have two players with at least 18 pass defenses, as Haden led the team and finished second in the League with 20, while CB Buster Skrine tied for fourth with 18. During that season, despite missing the final five games, Gipson finished second in the NFL with six interceptions, which were the most by a Brown since 2010.
Prior to Cleveland, Glenn spent two seasons (2012-13) working in the New York Jets front office. He served as a college area scout in 2013 after a season as a pro personnel scout.
Glenn played 15 years in the NFL before joining the personnel and coaching ranks. He was a first-round draft selection (12th overall) by the Jets out of Texas A&M in the 1994 Draft. He started 176 out of his 205 career games played during his time with New York (1994-2001), Houston (2002-04), Dallas (2005-06), Jacksonville (2007) and New Orleans (2008). He earned three Pro Bowl selections during his career, and posted career totals of 661 tackles, 41 interceptions and 167 pass defenses. Glenn scored eight career touchdowns, including six interception returns, a 96-yard kickoff return and a 104-yard return on a missed field goal.
A Humble, Texas native, Glenn earned his bachelor's degree in business management from Texas A&M, where he was a two-time All-American, and left the school as his alma mater's all-time leader in pass defenses in a season (20), season punt-return average (19.9) and punt return yards in a game (131).
In 2003, he established the Aaron Glenn Foundation, which supports education and health initiatives for families and children. Glenn and his wife, Devaney, have a son, Aaron II, and two daughters, Tristen and Rheagan.
