There are people who believe hiring a head coach from an offensive background is the way to go in order to build a Super Bowl-winning team. Just don’t bring those people around Aaron Glenn.
When considering his future prospects this week, including a potential path to becoming head coach of the New Orleans Saints, the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator was quick to bring up Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin as examples of defensive-minded coaches who won Super Bowls.
That’s not a worry with the Saints. Mickey Loomis made it clear the team will look at coaches from all disciplines.
Additionally, Glenn doesn’t want to be viewed as ‘just’ a defensive coach. He told reporters this week that, “I’m a coach. I just happen to be on the defense. I understand the offense just as well as a number of people.”
Glenn refuses to be boxed in: “If you’re going to hire me, you’re going to hire a coach, not a defensive coach. I’m going to talk to the offense just as much as I’m going to talk to the defense.”
That’s the difference between a coordinator and a head coach, though there are coaches who spend more time on one side of the ball. It makes you wonder if Glenn will call plays.
He’s been around Sean Payton and Dan Campbell. Campbell doesn’t call plays which allows him to be everywhere. Payton is a renowned play caller. His focus is on the entire team, but the offense has to receive a larger percentage of his attention through the week.
Glenn has a couple of influences to take from, and it makes his eventual approach as a head coach interesting to watch. He has a background working in scouting, too, which is a rare thing for many coaches these days. The Saints may have a front-row seat for seeing how his unique process plays out.
