We have completed a virtual interview with Aaron Glenn for our head coach position. pic.twitter.com/WPasgJ59OS
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 10, 2025
The New Orleans Saints announced Friday morning that they have completed an interview with Aaron Glenn, one of the top head coach targets in this year’s cycle. Glenn scheduled five interviews with five different teams within a 48-hour window, including the Saints, so he’s been a very busy man. But why is the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator so sought-after?
Glenn lost the NFL’s best pass rusher in the opening weeks of the season when Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken leg, and the hits kept coming as other starting defensive linemen, linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks were eroded away. And his defense has continued to play lights-out football. They peaked with a shutdown performance against one of the league’s top offenses in the regular season finale, spiking Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold’s MVP odds along the way.
He’s built a reputation as a coach who can maximize the talent available to him and relate to his players. Glenn has a scouting background, too, so there’s a good chance he could be a better influence in the war room with Jeff Ireland’s college scouting department than Dennis Allen was. All of these teams wouldn’t be making time for Glenn without good reason.
Like most of the first round of interviews, this was a virtual meeting between Glenn and the Saints; that’s what the rules dictate for coaches whose teams are still in the playoffs. It sure sounds like Glenn is expected to get a second, more thorough sit-down with the Saints’ brass, but we’ll have to wait and see whether things actually do progress to that stage. Stay tuned.
