Aaron Glenn is working to adhere to the Detroit Lions’ model. In that regard, he has recruited two assistant coaches, ex-passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand (offensive coordinator) and former tight ends coach Steve Heiden (offensive line coach), for his initial staff as head coach of the New York Jets.
Glenn is likely to passionately support one or more of his former Lions’ defensive players as potential free agent targets for the Jets.
Just as Dan Campbell has done and continues to do with the Lions, Glenn is assembling his coaching staff with ex-NFL players. Our friends at The Jet Press report that former Lions cornerback and cornerbacks coach Dre’ Bly is set to join Glenn’s coaching staff in New York as the new coach for cornerbacks.
As of this writing, the Jets have yet to make an official announcement regarding the move. However, Bly has nearly confirmed it himself by altering his Twitter background to feature a Jets’ logo and sharing a mention of The Jet Press article on his Instagram.
Jets appoint Dre’ Bly as the new cornerbacks coach, Aaron Glenn to lead the hiring.
Following four seasons with the St. Louis Rams to kick off his career, Bly played for the Lions for the next four of his 11 seasons (1999-2009), achieving both of his Pro Bowl selections while in Honolulu Blue (2003 and 2004). He returned to the Lions for the 2023 season as cornerbacks coach, remaining for only that season before being succeeded by the current defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend.
Bly began his coaching career at his alma mater (North Carolina), where he was the cornerbacks coach for the Tar Heels for four years (2019-2022). After his release from the Lions, he spent the previous season in college as a defensive analyst at Charlotte.
Glenn and Bly spent just one year together in Detroit, and that season, cornerback performance was not particularly a strength for the Lions. With improved players on the Jets’ roster, Bly is likely to find greater success in his second opportunity as an NFL cornerbacks coach. Glenn clearly noticed something appealing about Bly that warranted giving him that opportunity now that he’s the head coach.