Alex Anzalone
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Buccaneers' linebacker Alex Anzalone believes that Aaron Glenn is the right guy to lead the Jets forward
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have seen quite a bit of turnover take place on their roster this offseason. While much has been made about the guys who are no longer in town with them, one of the new arrivals who is going to look to lead the team back to the playoffs is former Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone, who signed a two-year, $17 million contract with the Bucs in free agency.
During his time with the Lions, Anzalone turned himself into the heart and soul of the team’s defense at the center of the unit. Much of Anzalone’s work came with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who is now the New York Jets head coach. Glenn’s first year in charge of the Jets was rather ugly, but ahead of the 2026 campaign, Anzalone offered some high praise for his former coach.
Alex Anzalone Gushes Over Aaron Glenn
I asked Bucs LB Alex Anzalone about his former coach Aaron Glenn and why Jets’ fans should be optimistic:
“They have a leader of men. They have a guy who is serious about football and truly cares about his players. And he’s the guy that can get it done.” ✈️ https://t.co/aebJtdRsaT pic.twitter.com/zPh9BTkRly
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 9, 2026
Anzalone broke into the NFL with the New Orleans as a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. Coincidentally, Glenn was a part of head coach Sean Payton’s staff when Anzalone found his way into the league as the team’s defensive backs coach. While he didn’t work as closely as he did with Anzalone in Detroit, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see him follow Glenn to the Lions when he was hired as their defensive coordinator in 2021.
During their time together in Detroit, Anzalone turned himself into one of the most important parts of the team’s defense. A tackling machine with a knack for getting to the quarterback, Anzalone did a little bit of everything for the Lions, and his ability to stay on the field, even with injuries piling up across the board, was huge for Detroit.
Now with Tampa Bay, Anzalone will look to make a similar impact moving forward. However, he certainly couldn’t help but notice all the struggles Glenn experienced in 2025 with the Jets. While many folks believe that Glenn is on the hot seat entering the 2026 campaign, Anzalone firmly believes that he is the right guy to lead the team forward.
“I’m very close with him,” Anzalone said of Glenn on “The Schultz Report.” “He’s been through a tough situation there. It’s similar to how Detroit was, and that turnaround, it took a few years to do. They have a leader of men. They have a guy who is serious about football and truly cares about his players. And he’s the guy that can get it done and turn them around and make them pretty competitive.”
Buccaneers Have High Hopes for Alex Anzalone in 2026
Detroit Lions LB Alex Anzalone
GettyDetroit Lions LB Alex Anzalone
If there’s anyone who knows what Glenn is going through, it’s Anzalone’s new head coach, Todd Bowles, who previously spent four years with the Jets as their head coach. While Bowles rebuilt New York’s defense, he couldn’t figure things out on the offensive side of the ball, and that seems to be precisely the sort of issue Glenn is experiencing as the team’s new leader.
While Anzalone will be keeping tabs on his close friend, his main goal involves learning the Bucs’ playbook ahead of the new season. With Lavonte David having retired, Anzalone’s responsibilities have already increased significantly since he signed with Tampa Bay, and he hasn’t even taken a snap for the team yet. Anzalone is already a key piece of the team’s defense, and the Buccaneers will be counting on him to deliver the goods in 2026.