Aaron Glenn, now leading the New York Jets, recently spoke about the profound influence Dan Campbell had on his journey toward becoming a head coach.
Dan Campbell, known for his leadership of the Detroit Lions, has long made it a priority to help his assistants grow and advance in their coaching careers. Frequently, he has shared how mentors such as Bill Parcells and Sean Payton shaped his approach, and he now seeks to pass that wisdom along to others.
From the start of his stint in Detroit, Campbell recognized Aaron Glenn’s potential. While Glenn served as defensive coordinator, Campbell often placed him in leadership roles that extended beyond the norm. One notable example was having Glenn address the entire roster—an early sign of the faith Campbell placed in his capabilities. That early trust didn’t go unnoticed.
Speaking during a recent press conference, Glenn recalled how Campbell gave him opportunities to step into a pseudo-head coaching role: “Dan let me handle things that most coordinators wouldn’t usually touch—like setting up the offseason calendar, outlining training camp plans, and making important calls. Those chances helped shape me and gave me a preview of what this job really entails.”
Glenn added that he’s brought many of those lessons with him to New York, particularly when it comes to player-first coaching—something Campbell consistently preached and practiced.
For those interested in hearing Glenn’s full remarks, he begins discussing Campbell’s impact around the 6:11 timestamp in the full press conference video.
