Earlier this season, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell openly acknowledged how he was savoring what may be limited time left with his coaching staff as its currently constructed. Most prominently, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are going to be head coaches some day. As this year’s hiring cycle now commences, they are both very in-demand for interviews–just as expected.
Glenn has four interviews lined up this week, with the Lions on a bye and assistant coaches on those two playoff teams (the Kansas City Chiefs as well) allowed to do virtual head coaching interviews from Wednesday through next Monday.
Glenn was already going to be a top candidate in this hiring cycle, but the game plan he put together to stifle the Minnesota Vikings’ offense in Week 18 only bolstered his resume.
On Monday Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who Glenn worked under as defensive backs coach with the New Orleans Saints for five seasons (2016-2020), noted how Sunday night’s game was a prime time interview for Glenn.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton on Lions DC Aaron Glenn:
“You watch the game last night, the best interview that Aaron Glenn could ever give was for three hours last night. There’s not one thing he can say or do to a GM or an owner that’s more impressive than that game.”
Dan Campbell did not hold back to send message to teams about Aaron Glenn
As Glenn has interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs in past years, Campbell has not held back to sell him as a candidate. In previous years though, the overall results the Lions’ defense had may have diminished Glenn as a serious candidate more than they should have. This year, as Glenn has had to navigate several key injuries, that is not the case.
During his press conference on Tuesday, Dan Campbell gave his sales pitch to teams who are set to interview Glenn this year.
“Aaron Glenn is as good a coach as you’re going to find, he’s an even better human being,” Campbell said.
“If nobody wants him I’ll take him again, I can tell you that right now, but the thought of going through another cycle and he’s not somebody’s head coach is ridiculous. This guy’s as good as they come. He can do it all. He understands how to manage a game. He understands offense, defense, special teams. He knows how to communicate. He understands discipline of players. And he’s motivated, he’s inspiring. I don’t want to lose him, but I also root for the guy because I think he’s a hell of a coach.”
Campbell, of course, will gladly hang onto his defensive coordinator for a fifth season if it comes to that. He just doesn’t think it should happen, going so far as to call it out as ridiculous if someone doesn’t hire Glenn as their new head coach during this cycle.
