Q&A: Get to know Raiders linebackers coach John Glenn

Apr 18, 2025 at 10:15 AM

Carter Owen

Digital Content Associate

Raiders.com is publishing a series of Q&As with members of the Silver and Black's 2025 coaching staff.

Here is the latest discussion with linebackers coach John Glenn. Glenn served as the assistant special teams coach for the Washington Commanders in 2024 after spending 12 seasons (2012-23) in multiple roles with the Seattle Seahawks, including linebackers coach (2018-23).

Read through to learn more about Glenn's thoughts on the Raiders' free agency additions, what he looks for in a linebacker and more.

Q: You were part of an incredible turnaround last year with Washington. I imagine it's a place a lot of people would be interested in working at right now. So why come to the Raiders and what made you interested in this opportunity?

Glenn: I think the first thing is the ability to get back to working with Coach Carroll, who I spent 12 previous years with. I have so much love and admiration for him not only as a football coach, but just a man. To get the opportunity to be back around him was at the forefront of everything. Then the second thing was the ability to get back to defense. The opportunity to be a linebackers coach in this league where there's only 32 of them, to have that incredible opportunity bestowed upon me to get back to the linebackers, get back to the room, it's an opportunity that you can't say no to.

Q: People always talk about Pete Carroll's emphasis on competition, the energy, the passion, the positivity. What is something about him that you think goes underappreciated or that isn't talked enough about?

Glenn: I would just say the defensive mind that he has. Everyone kind of labels this as a single-high, Cover 3, but Coach's ability to adapt, stay on top of trends, to figure things out and to constantly challenge us is one of the greatest qualities. Complacency can set in and his ability to not let that happen is a huge culture driver in my opinion.

Q: How has it been working with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham for the first time?

Glenn: I've never worked with Coach PG, but I've seen his defenses from afar. I've seen the linebacker play that he had in New England and I always admired it. Then to have the ability to listen to him, how he leads, how he strategizes defensively, it is really, really awesome. I am so excited to be able to learn from him, to grow with him and to be a part of this thing with him as our defensive leader. It's been a true blessing.

Q: Both starting linebackers from last season departed in free agency, so there's going to be an opportunity for guys to make an impression and fill that void. What do you look for when you're thinking about the types of players you want to take on major roles at the linebacker position?

Glenn: The best thing is with every new season, there's a new beginning. It's a chance for the guys that are in the room now to show what they do, to have an opportunity to play in this league. Although it's sad to see people leave, it's also exciting to see new people emerge and take the reins. One of the biggest things that we look for is a physical style of play. The second thing is speed. Third thing is length. It's physicality, speed, length, let's go play ball. (laughter)

Q: Elandon Roberts and Devin White were both signed in free agency. I know you're not necessarily the guy making the final decision on roster moves, but I'm guessing there's some consultation that happens. Why were they important to bring in and what can they contribute to the room?

Glenn: I think just exactly what we said. If we want to establish an identity as a defense, "E-Rob" is one of the most perfect examples of a dude that is going to hit. He's going to bring a physical style of play that people are going to have to be aware of. When you look at Devin, you look at his speed on the perimeter, his ability to chase stuff down, to play plays in space. We're getting a dude that can hit, and we're getting a dude that has a lot of speed with him.

Q: As a coach, when you get a player like Devin White that has performed at a dominant level and also gone through some challenges, how do you go about trying to help him get back to where he wants to be?

Glenn: It's just another opportunity for us to put the player in a position where he can showcase his natural abilities. That's really the selling point. It's like, "Hey, man, we're going to give you every opportunity to go show the rest of the league the player that you are. It's a tremendous challenge. It's easier said than done, but that's the selling point in my humble opinion.

Q: From watching tape of some of the linebackers who were here in 2024, what stands out to you and where do you see areas for improvement?

Glenn: I think the really cool deal is that right now, everyone in the room has a chance to play. Everyone in the room has a chance to be a contributor in some way, shape or form. I see length, I see speed, I see some physical style. And then we have guys that are smart. They're hitting their playbooks, they're answering questions, they're asking questions. Everyone in that room right now has a clean slate and an opportunity to show their best self. … There is some vet leadership, but there's also some young guys that have a chip on their shoulder that are looking to prove something. And those, in my mind, are the most dangerous players.

Q: Who is the best linebacker that you've coached and what made them special?

Glenn: You always have to say "B-Wags" [Bobby Wagner], one of the greatest ones that you could have been around. K.J. Wright, Mychal Kendricks, Jordyn Brooks, all those guys had special innate qualities. The biggest thing for me right now is consistency. It's being the same coach every day and the same player every day. That's what really separates those guys. There are no highs and lows. Those guys are all consistent, consistent, consistent.

Q: What former NFL linebacker would you have most wanted to coach and spend time around?

Glenn: I would say Derrick Brooks. You talk about playing split safety, robbing the backside, whether it's dig, pushing to the front side over, that would be someone that I would love to have a conversation with and just listen to his mentality.

Q: Since you've come into the league, how has the linebacker position changed in response to some of the new ways offenses are looking to attack defenses?

Glenn: The offensive philosophies with RPOs, speed on the perimeter, speed in space, you've forced linebackers to be more speed, change of direction as opposed to the old 6-foot-4, 250-pound linebacker. One thing that hasn't changed is the physical nature that the position calls upon. You're still going to have to defeat a block. You're still going to have to tackle a ballcarrier at any moment. It's just the arrival at where it's taking place sometimes changes based on how offenses are attacking you.

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you have the chance to get out of the building for a bit?

Glenn: First of all, I love the opportunity to get a chance to see my family. My greatest joy is seeing them. The second thing is that I'm a big beach and water guy, so I love the ocean. My family would probably joke that I take them on a lot of trips that are a lot of hours in the car just to see the water one day. That is my place where I like to get away. It's where I can shut down and just be a dad, be a human, and leave football for the time that I come into the office. I am a big body surf guy. My kids will often joke about how good of a wave rider I am. I can get right up on there on the beach like a missile in the water.

Q: Before you got to Washington, you also spent some time out of coaching. Was there ever a moment where you weren't sure if coaching was going to be in your future?

Glenn: Absolutely, and really, the principles and philosophies that Coach Carroll lives by and preaches are principles and philosophies that got me through that. I moved to Los Angeles. I didn't get the job I wanted. I end up having to do a couple things working for Nike, sports training camps, volunteering, getting a job at a bar, and you really question a lot of things. But the principles about competition, you really learn who you are and at the core of it, I'm a competitor. It's just compete, compete, compete. No matter what happens, just worry about the next thing. It really got me through, and I was able to get a job and skyrocket from there.

Read more Q&As:

Wide receivers coach Chris Beatty

Defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson

Running backs coach Deland McCullough

Defensive line coach/run game coordinator Rob Leonard

Quarterbacks coach Greg Olson

Pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Joe Woods

Tight ends coach Luke Steckel

1 / 64

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tyler Manoa (92) at a workout during phase one of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.