Aaron Glenn brings 23 years of National Football League playing, front office and coaching experience to the Saints coaching staff in his fifth season as secondary coach in New Orleans. In his first four campaigns as secondary coach in in New Orleans, the club's cornerbacks and safeties have played a pivotal role in the club's defensive improvement under Glenn's tutelage and mentorship.
During the 2019 season, Glenn's defensive backs recorded nine interceptions, three sacks, six forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. He had a helping hand in the growth of fourth-year safety Vonn Bell, who totaled five regular season fumble recoveries – the most in the NFL and added another in the postseason. Bell also led the secondary in tackles (86) for the fourth consecutive season. Safety Marcus Williams led the team with four interceptions. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore became the first Saint to be selected to two Pro Bowls, leading the team with 14 passes defensed as he was often matched up against opponents' top wide receivers. Rookie defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, played at both nickel corner and safety, posting 46 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as he developed throughout the season.
In 2018, Glenn's defensive backs recorded 12 picks, three sacks, nine forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. He had a helping hand in the continued development of Lattimore, who led the team with five takeaways in the regular season, adding two interceptions in the NFC Divisional Playoff win over Philadelphia. At the cornerback position opposite Lattimore, Glenn helped Eli Apple make a successful in-season transition to the Saints after being acquired at midseason, recording three takeaways in ten games.
Under Glenn's tutelage Lattimore enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2017, starting all 13 games he appeared in and leading NFL rookies with a team-high five interceptions and tying for the rookie lead with a club-best 18 passes defensed as he was the youngest Saint (21 years old) ever selected to the Pro Bowl and the franchise's first AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. He also showed his ability to work with young players in Bell's rookie campaign in 2016 when the second round draft pick posted 98 tackles, one sack, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery as he played in every contest with 14 starts.
From 2014-15, Glenn served as assistant secondary coach with the Cleveland Browns. In a 2015 campaign where Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden played in only five games due to injuries, Cleveland's secondary was led by a pair of veterans in safety Donte Whitner and cornerback Tramon Williams, who led the defensive backfield with 81 and 69 tackles respectively. In 2014, Glenn worked with a group that garnered Pro Bowl honors from safety Tashaun Gipson, Haden and Whitner, marking the first time in team history that three defensive backs were selected. The Browns led the NFL in opponent passer rating (74.1), completion percentage (57.1) and passes defensed (99). Cleveland finished second in the league with 21 interceptions, the team's highest total since 2008. They also finished ranked fifth in the league in yards per pass attempt (6.44), fifth in red zone defense (46.3) and ninth in points per game (21.1). Cleveland was also the only team to have two players with at least 18 passes defensed, as Haden led the team and finished second in the league with 20, while cornerback Buster Skrine tied for fourth with 18. Despite missing the final five games, Gipson finished second in the NFL with six interceptions, the most by a Brown since 2010.
Before joining the Browns, Glenn spent two seasons (2012-13) in the New York Jets front office. He served as a college area scout in 2013 after a season as a pro personnel scout.
A first-round pick (12th overall) by the Jets in 1994 out of Texas A&M, Glenn started 176 of his 205 career games during his tenure with New York (1994-2001), Houston (2002-04), Dallas (2005-06), Jacksonville (2007) and New Orleans (2008). A three-time Pro Bowler (1997-98, 2002), he recorded 661 career tackles, 41 interceptions and 167 passes defensed. Glenn scored eight career touchdowns, including six interception returns, a 96-yard kickoff return and a 104-yard return on a missed field goal.
Glenn earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Texas A&M, where he was a two-time All-American, departing as the school's all-time leader in passes defensed in a season (20), season punt-return average (19.9) and punt return yards in a game (131). In 2003, the Humble, Texas native established the Aaron Glenn Foundation, which supports education and health initiatives for families and children.
PLAYING CAREER: Navarro (Texas) JC, 1990-91; Texas A&M, 1992-93; New York Jets, 1994-2001, Houston Texans, 2002-04; Dallas Cowboys, 2005-06; Jacksonville Jaguars, 2007; New Orleans Saints 2008.
COACHING CAREER: Cleveland Browns, 2014-15; New Orleans Saints, 2016-.
