Illinois football is set for a major defensive change.

Multiple national outlets are reporting that Aaron Henry is leaving Illinois to join Notre Dame as defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator, ending a five-year run on Bret Bielema’s staff.

In this episode, I break down:
• Aaron Henry’s full timeline at Illinois — from DB coach to DC
• The highs (elite secondary play, NFL development) and the struggles
• Why third-down defense became the breaking point
• Why this move is not instability, but an inflection point
• What Notre Dame is actually hiring Henry to do
• Why this is a step down in responsibility, not reputation
• What Bielema’s decision says about the next phase of the program
• Why Illinois’ defense needed a new voice — even if Henry wasn’t “bad”
• The real pressure point: keeping pace in a changing Big Ten

This isn’t a hit piece.
It’s context — and it’s the start of a critical offseason.

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