While temperatures and snow consume everyone across the country, the NFL offseason is heating up. After 10 head coach jobs were opened, only two remain. However, all eyes are on the future moves we will see in the offseason. Some teams will get the chance to address some major needs. The Jets are no exception. After putting together a bottom-two defense in the league in 2025, New York is prioritizing defense. Especially at the linebacker position. Fortunately, head coach Aaron Glenn could reunite with a familiar face from his Detroit Lions days. If the signing happens, linebacker Alex Anzalone could be a big help in New York.
Report: Jets Connected to Prized Free Agent Linebacker
While quarterback will be the talk of the offseason, it shouldn’t be the primary objective. One can’t deny that the state of the defense has been lackluster. Even when Sauce Gardener and Quinnen Williams were here, that collective unit failed expectations. Fortunately, there will be multiple avenues to explore to help. For starters, with Aaron Glenn becoming the play caller on defense, there should hopefully be more cohesion. In addition, with four picks within the top 45, the team will have ample opportunity to add playmakers through the NFL Draft. As of now, multiple mock drafts feature them selecting a game-changing edge rusher between Ohio State’s Arvell Reeese or Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. Either man would be a promising addition to the unit.
However, another position that can’t be ignored is the linebacker room. With veteran Quincy Williams heading to free agency, the team needs to provide some support around Jamien Sherwood. One year after signing a three-year, $45 million extension, Sherwood had what was considered a down year. However, despite being undersized at 6’2, 220lbs, Sherwood finished within the top 15 in solo tackles. To help him out, the team desperately needs more size to join him in the room. Fortunately for him and the team, Aaron Glenn knows of a free agent who can help with that.
I thought one of the biggest mistakes Aaron Glenn made last year was not bringing more Lions players he coached over with him to the Jets. Most new head coaches bring players over with them to help set the culture.
Now that he’s likely calling plays, with a DC (Brian Duker)…
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) January 28, 2026
Alex Anzalone could be a target for New York
Athletic reporter Zack Rosenblatt reported that the Jets could target veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone this offseason. After spending the last four seasons with the Detroit Lions, longtime linebacker Alex Anzalone is a free agent. Originally drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, Anzalone signed with Detroit during the 2021 offseason. It was in New Orleans where Anzalone and Aaron Glenn first crossed paths, while the latter was the Saints defensive backs coach at the time. Anzalone’s time in New Orleans was mostly uneventful. While there, Anzalone was dealing with limited playing time, along with injuries, a concern that plagued him in college at Florida. Additionally, New Orleans DC Dennis Allen tried Anzalone out at outside linebacker, a move that led to minimal impact.
However, once Anzalone followed Glenn to Detroit, his fortunes changed. Now moved to inside linebacker, Anzalone showed flashes of potential. In 14 games as a starter, Anzalone finished the season with a career high 78 tackles, including 49 solo tackles, along with an interception. It wasn’t until his second season as DC that Aaron Glenn really unlocked Anzalone’s potential. Anzalone finished 2022 with 125 total tackles, including 77 solo tackles and seven tackles for loss, along with an interception & fumble recovery. Additionally, Anzalone started a career high of 17 games.
Anzalone’s Career Breakthrough & the Resurgence of the Lions
That was followed by another breakthrough. In 2023, Anzalone not only had another 125+ tackle season but also had three sacks that year. The turnaround of Aaron Glenn’s defense, thanks to guys like Anzalone, paid off for Detroit. The Lions finished 2023 with a 12-5 record and went all the way to the NFC Championship game for the first time in over 30 years. While the offense was stealing headlines, the additions of Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Jack Campbell, and Malcolm Rodriguez helped revitalize the defense. They achieved their first playoff win in 32 years after beating the Los Angeles Rams in the wildcard game. However, injuries in 2024 limited Anzalone to only 10 games that year. Thankfully, the linebacker enjoyed a productive 2025 after playing in 16 games.
Why Alex Anzalone Would Fit With The Jets
Last year, Alex Anzalone put together another productive season. He reached at least 95 total tackles for the third time in the last four years. Along with having two & a half sacks, his third season with at least two sacks in his career. Not to mention, he also recorded his fourth career interception. Despite the injury concerns, it’s hard to deny Anzalone’s impact even in his 30s. Providing Aaron Glenn and the new defensive coordinator, Brian Duker, will be crucial for helping the defense. If he signs, Anzalone would be the perfect veteran addition to help lead the group. Especially adding some size at 6’3, 235 lbs. The addition of Anzalone would also provide a reliable veteran while hopefully aiding Jamien Sherwood’s development.
The addition of Anzalone alone won’t solve all their problems. But his presence in the locker room could be a big moral boost for a team in need of leadership. Last year was the first season Alex Anzalone played without Aaron Glenn on the same sideline. While Anzalone will have plenty of options, perhaps reuniting with a longtime coach like Glenn would be more desirable than trying to learn a new defense. At the very least, New York will have the cap space to make a compelling offer.
Main Photo: [Junfu Han] – Imagn Images