Aaron Glenn reportedly wants NY Jets HC job despite Saints interest

The NY Jets have conducted one of the most extensive head coach and general manager searches the NFL has seen in recent years. With 33 known candidates for both jobs combined, identifying a favorite has been difficult.

However, one name has been linked to the Jets head coach job more than most: Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Glenn has emerged as a potential frontrunner for the position, and it seems the interest is mutual.

Brian Costello of the New York Post reported on Wednesday that Glenn "has told people the Jets are his first choice if he were to be offered a head coaching position." Glenn has been closely connected to both the Jets and New Orleans Saints in recent weeks.

The rumor mill prior to Wednesday suggested that Glenn might have been more likely to end up in New Orleans, but Costello's report insists otherwise. If the Jets want Glenn to be their next head coach, it sounds like he'd accept the offer.

Aaron Glenn wants to be the next NY Jets head coach

Glenn has deep ties to the Jets organization from his playing days. The three-time Pro Bowl cornerback spent eight seasons with the Jets (1994–2001) and built a strong bond with head coach Bill Parcells during that time. Glenn and Parcells remain close to this day.

He also got his start as a personnel scout with the Jets in 2012 before entering the coaching world with the Cleveland Browns a few years later. The Jets aren't the only team with Glenn connections, however.

Glenn also briefly played for the Saints at the end of his career in 2008 and returned to the organization as the team's defensive backs coach under Sean Payton in 2016. He spent five years with the Saints before he was hired as Dan Campbell's defensive coordinator.

Despite his ties to both franchises, the Jets seem to be his preference. Just last month, ESPN's Rich Cimini recalled a conversation he had with Glenn from a few years ago in which the former star cornerback referred to the Jets as his "dream job."

If Costello and Cimini's reports are to be believed, the Jets should be able to hire Glenn if they want to. Glenn wants the Jets, but do the Jets want Glenn?

The team has also been heavily connected to Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Flores is seen as another strong candidate for the Jets' job, with speculation mounting that he would bring Josh McCown — and possibly Ryan Grigson — with him.

Jets fans should gain a clearer indication of the team's head coach plans after the team hires a general manager, possibly as early as the beginning of next week. That hire should hint at who should be the favorite for the head coach job.

For now, Jets fans hoping to see their team hire Aaron Glenn should feel very optimistic. Glenn wants the Jets.

More NY Jets news and analysis: