Human nature would have allowed Dan Campbell to feel some pangs of remorse at seeing Aaron Glenn depart his Detroit coaching staff to become head coach of the Jets this offseason.
But Campbell never went there. He had complimentary words for his defensive coordinator when Glenn departed in January, and he repeated his high praise for Glenn this week at the NFL Annual League Meetings in Palm Beach, FL.
"I think it speaks for itself," Campbell said at the NFC Coaches' Breakfast of Glenn's ability to teach and develop. "Go pull up anything AG's done here and just watch it. It's all over the internet. He's an unbelievable teacher, he's a motivator, he's all about the details and he's about accountability. If he has something on his mind, he's going to say it. He's not just going to sweep it under the rug, he's going to let you know, and I think that's important. Sometimes that gets lost."
Campbell saw Glenn's developing coaching style when the two were assistant coaches on Sean Payton's New Orleans staffs, and he took AG with him to Detroit when he was named head coach in 2021. Glenn grew the Lions' defense in his four seasons there, and that unit was a big part, along with the Jared Goff-led offense, in annually improving the Lions' record, from 3-13-1 to 9-8, to 12-5 and last year to 15-2.
"You have to be able to do what you need to do to build it from the ground up," Campbell said. "AG has been around some phenomenal coaches. I'm not talking about me. Bill Parcells, Sean Payton. This guy gets it. He's been around the best at building and sustaining. You need a leader and you need a guy who can hold people accountable. I'm talking about top down, he has a vision for where he wants to go and allow him to do that."
Campbell also didn't begrudge Glenn taking some of the Lions' coaches with him to the Jets in passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, now the Jets' offensive coordinator, and Steve Heiden, who coached Detroit's tight ends in 2023-24 and takes over the Green & White's offensive line duties.
"Both of those guys moving over are ready to make that move" Campbell said. "They always had critical input on the run game and the pass game for us game-planning, and they were great with the players. Tanner has some [play-calling] experience, he does, It hasn't been in the NFL, but he's done this, he's organized game plans and he's helped me out a ton. And he's an upbeat guy, I would say that about both of them. Every day, they're the same guys and they're real positive role models to be around. They'll be great out there."
Campbell said that with the team of coaches and players that Glenn has begun to assemble and with his style and personality, success isn't far away for the Jets.
"As long as he has the support, AG will turn that thing around," he said. "He's an unbelievable leader and he's an even better person. He's the type of guy who makes people rally around him and do things to help him have success. He is going to bring the right type of people around him. He already has done that with the coaches and he'll bring the right kind of players.
"If he can't do it, nobody can, and that's my opinion."
