NFL Coaching Shake-Up: Patriots, Bengals, and Raiders Make Key Appointments

The NFL has seen a flurry of coaching changes, with the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Cincinnati Bengals announcing new hires, including Aaron Glenn as the Jets' new head coach.

Wednesday was a day of significant change in the National Football League (NFL) as several teams announced new coaching appointments. The New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Cincinnati Bengals were among the teams making key hires, shaking up their coaching staffs in the process.

New Era for the Jets

Aaron Glenn is set to become the new head coach of the New York Jets, marking his first stint as a head coach in the NFL. Glenn joins the Jets after a successful four-year tenure as the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, where he helped the team become the number one seed in the NFC this season.

The Jets are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 5-12 record last season, which led to the firing of former head coach Robert Saleh just five games into the season. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich was unable to turn things around, and the team ultimately suffered their ninth consecutive losing season.

Glenn is no stranger to the Jets organization, having spent seven seasons with the team as a player from 1994 to 2001. During his time with the Jets, Glenn made two Pro Bowl appearances in 1997 and 1998. He went on to play for several other teams, including the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New Orleans Saints, before transitioning into coaching roles with the Cleveland Browns, Saints, and Lions.

Jets hiring Aaron Glenn as their new head coach. (via @Rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/QUaE7hzRY1

— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2025

Glenn's defensive expertise and experience make him an attractive hire for the Jets, who are looking to rebuild and return to competitiveness. With his proven track record and familiarity with the organization, Glenn is poised to bring a new era of success to the Jets.

The New England Patriots have announced the appointments of Josh McDaniels as their new offensive coordinator and Terrell Williams as their new defensive coordinator. McDaniels returns to the Patriots for a third stint, having previously spent 16 years with the organization in various roles, including offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

McDaniels has a wealth of experience, having worked with the Patriots during their six Super Bowl-winning seasons, with the most recent one being in 2019 when they defeated the Los Angeles Rams. Since leaving the Patriots in 2021, McDaniels has had a brief stint as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, where he went 9-16 before being fired midway through the 2023 season.

Terrell Williams, on the other hand, will be taking on his first defensive coordinator role in the NFL. Williams has had a long career in the league, working as a defensive line coach for several teams, including the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, and Detroit Lions. Notably, Williams worked under Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel during his six-year tenure with the Titans.

In his most recent role with the Detroit Lions, Williams played a key role in shaping one of the best defenses in the league. Despite dealing with numerous injuries, the Lions gave up the fifth-fewest points in the regular season. Williams' experience and expertise will be invaluable to the Patriots as they look to rebuild and return to competitiveness.

Al Golden, a seasoned coach with experience in both the college and professional ranks, is set to return to Cincinnati to join the Bengals as their new defensive coordinator. Golden's coaching career spans over two decades, with notable stints at the college level, including a recent tenure as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, where he led the Fighting Irish to the College Football National Championship.

Golden is no stranger to the NFL, having played for the New England Patriots in 1992 before transitioning to coaching. He has since held various coaching positions, including stints with the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals, where he served as the linebackers coach. Golden's experience and defensive expertise make him an attractive hire for the Bengals, who are looking to bolster their defense.

Golden's recent success at Notre Dame, where he helped shape one of the best defenses in the country, likely played a significant role in the Bengals' decision to bring him back to the NFL. The Fighting Irish boasted the fifth-best defense in the country in terms of yards allowed, ultimately falling short in the National Championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. With Golden at the helm, the Bengals are hoping to replicate some of that defensive success in Cincinnati.

In addition to the coaching changes announced by the Jets, Patriots, Bengals, and Raiders, several other notable moves were made. One of the most significant announcements was the departure of John Spytek from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he served as the assistant general manager for two successful seasons. During his tenure, the Bucs won the NFC South division title in both years.

Spytek will now take on the role of general manager with the Las Vegas Raiders, marking his fifth full-time position in the NFL. This move is a significant opportunity for Spytek, who will be tasked with shaping the Raiders' roster and guiding the team's front office decisions. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers will need to find a replacement for Spytek's assistant GM role.

In other news, Liam Coen, the offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers, announced that he will be staying with the team rather than pursuing the vacant head coaching position with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coen's decision is a significant boost for the Buccaneers, who will retain his expertise and continuity on their coaching staff. The Jaguars, on the other hand, will continue their search for a new head coach after parting ways with Trent Baalke following a disappointing season.