Johnny Manziel Cleveland BrownsAssociated Press photo

Mike Shanahan’s staff in Washington had a lot of talent, but don’t discount the cradle of coaches in Cleveland 11 years ago. Look away, Browns fans. The offices on Lou Groza Boulevard in 2014 contained a plethora of talent, including Aaron Glenn.

Glenn is in New York Tuesday for a second interview with the Jets, potentially becoming their newest head coach before the end of the day. Familiar with the organization, he played most of his career with the team (1994-2001) and also got his first NFL job there, hired by then-general manager Mike Tannenbaum as a personnel scout in 2012. In that role, Glenn crossed paths with defensive coordinator and future Browns head coach Mike Pettine.

Two years later, Pettine gave Glenn his first NFL coaching job, hiring the former All-Pro as assistant defensive backs coach. Now, 11 years later after stops in New Orleans (2016-20) and Detroit (2021-24), Glenn is expected to get his first head-coaching job this week.

Pettine’s 2014 Cleveland staff also included offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan (now San Francisco head coach), wide receivers coach Mike McDaniel (now Miami Dolphins head coach), defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley (was the head coach at Boston College, now Green Bay defensive coordinator) and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor (served as interim head coach in Carolina).

Plus, that 2014 staff featured two individuals most believe will be head coaches in the next two years, assistant defensive backs coach Bobby Babich (now Bills defensive coordinator) and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver (now Dolphins defensive coordinator).

The Browns’ downfall that year wasn’t their coaching staff; it was their draft. Three months after hiring Glenn, Cleveland selected both Justin Gilbert (eighth overall) and Johnny Manziel (22nd) in the first round of the 2014 draft.

Pettine went 10-22 from 2014-15 at the reins of the Browns, losing 18 of his last 21 games. Shanahan left after one season for Atlanta, where he helped Dan Quinn and the Falcons to a Super Bowl berth before ascending to 49ers head coach in 2017. McDaniel followed Shanahan to both Atlanta and San Francisco before the Dolphins hired him as head coach in 2022.

If New York allows Glenn to leave on Tuesday, he’s scheduled for a second interview with the Saints this week, depending on weather.

For more information on the Browns and Jets, visit the Cleveland and N.Y. Jets team pages. Also check out the Coach/GM Carousel page at ProFootballPost.com.


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By Zak Gilbert

Since his freshman year at the University of Colorado, Zak Gilbert has worked 30 years in sports, including 18 NFL seasons. He's spent time with four NFL teams, serving as head of communications for both the Raiders and Browns. A veteran of nine Super Bowls, he most recently worked six seasons in the NFL's New York league office.

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