Glenn’s Dream Team Takes Shape: Former Lions’ CB and CB Coach Joins Aaron Glenn’s Staff
Aaron Glenn is attempting to follow the Detroit Lions’ blue print. Along that line he has poached two assistant coaches, former passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand (offensive coordinator) and former tight ends coach Steve Heiden (offensive line coach) for his first staff as New York Jets head coach.
Glenn is also easily expected to strongly advocate for one or more of his former Lions’ defensive players as free agent targets for the Jets.
Like Dan Campbell did and has continued to do with the Lions, Glenn is filling his coaching staff with former NFL players. According to our friends over at The Jet Press, former Lions cornerback and cornerbacks coach Dre’ Bly will be joining Glenn’s coaching staff in New York as the new cornerbacks coach.
The Jets have not officially announced the move as of this writing. But Bly has all but confirmed it himself by changing his Twitter background to a Jets’ logo, and posting a mention of The Jet Press story on his Instagram page.
Jets, Aaron Glenn to hire Dre’ Bly as new cornerbacks coach
After four seasons with the St. Louis Rams to start his career, Bly spent the next four of his 11 seasons (1999-2009) as a player with the Lions (2003-2006), earning both of his career Pro Bowl nods while wearing Honolulu Blue (2003 and 2004). He spent the 2023 season back with the Lions as cornerbacks coach, lasting just that one season before being replaced by current defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend.
Bly started in coaching at his alma mater (North Carolina), serving as the Tar Heels’ cornerbacks coach for four seasons (2019-2022). After being let go by the Lions, he spent this past season back at the college level as a defensive analyst at Charlotte.
Glenn and Bly only overlapped for a year in Detroit, and cornerback play was not exactly a strong suit for the Lions that season. But with better pupils on the Jets’ roster, Bly should have more success in his second chance at being an NFL cornerbacks coach. Glenn obviously saw something he liked enough to give Bly that shot now that he’s a head coach.
