Jets’ first GM finalist revealed, bringing plan for next regime into focus

Monday was already eventful for the Jets, as Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn emerged as the first finalist of their lengthy list of head coaching candidates.

And now they’re moving forward with their general manager search too, as a candidate with strong ties to Glenn became the first to secure a second-round interview.

The Jets are set to interview Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark on Tuesday for the open job, according to ESPN. Newmark joined the commanders after more than 25 years in the Lions front office, where he worked alongside Glenn, who will also meet with the Jets on Tuesday.

Newmark is believed to have close ties with both Glenn and Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (who the Jets have not interviewed for their open coaching job). And the Jets could have competition to land his services. Newmark had an in-person interview with the Raiders on Sunday. Las Vegas is reportedly in the mix to land Johnson as its head coach.

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There’s always the possibility that Vegas could make Newmark an offer he can’t refuse before he interviews with the Jets. But the fact that Newmark departed the visit with the Raiders without a deal and now has an interview with the Jets, where Glenn has emerged as the clear top candidate, could be a sign that a partnership between Glenn, Newmark and the Jets is imminent.

Especially considering that no other finalists have emerged from the Jets wide-ranging interview process.

Both Newmark and Glenn are highly regarded around the league. And both have a lot of experience. But it would be a big-time bet on the unknown in both cases, because neither has experience being the highest authority.

Glenn’s background is well known to Jets fans: he was a Pro Bowl corner after they drafted him 12th overall in 1994. He knows what it looks like and what it takes to help transform a lost franchise become one of the best in the NFL, because he helped the Lions do it as their defensive coordinator under Dan Campbell.

But Newmark does too, because he was with the Lions for 26 years before departing for the assistant GM role in Washington before this season. He started as a scout for Detroit in 1998, rising to director of college scouting by 2015, and director of player personnel in 2016.

Newmark interviewed for the Lions job back in 2021, and was beat out by Rams exec Brad Holmes for the job. But Holmes decided to keep him on as senior director of player personnel and credited Newmark played a huge role in the turnaround and admitted it was a “major loss” when the left for the Commanders a year ago.

In a strange twist, Newmark’s Commanders upset Glenn’s Lions in the Divisional Round on Sunday, the only reason Glenn is free to interview with the Jets in person on Tuesday. Now there’s a chance they could be working together to formulate what they hope will be a similar turnaround.