Aaron Glenn is changing one of the most important parts of his game-day job. After one year away from it, the Jets head coach is back to calling defensive plays on game day.
That is a notable shift for Glenn, who stopped handling those duties when he became a first-time head coach. The move reflects how much his role changed once he took over the Jets, but it also points to how directly he wants to shape the defense now that he is settled into the job.
Why the change matters
The timing is impossible to miss. In the year Glenn delegated play-calling, the Jets finished 31st in points allowed, 29th in total yards allowed and went 3-14. Those numbers do not tell the whole story of a season, but they do show why the defense became such a major issue.
Play-calling is one of the reasons Glenn was so appealing in the first place. Before becoming the Jets head coach, he had spent his post-playing career working toward this job, and the source frames that defensive command as part of what helped him get it. Returning to play-calling suggests he believes being more hands-on again can help the Jets clean up problems that showed up last season.
What comes next
The Jets are still trying to build something better under Glenn, and this is a clear sign that he wants more control over one of the team's most important units. After a year away from calling the defense, he is back in that role on game day, and the results will be judged quickly.
