Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is making waves, and two teams with rough records are eyeing him for their head coach spot. Despite the dismal 5–12 seasons, these franchises are ready to take a shot at Glenn’s defensive genius.
But why, though? Maybe it’s his ability to turn a defense around, or perhaps they’re hoping his energy rubs off on their squads. Either way, these surprise suitors are looking to steal Glenn away, and it’s about to get interesting.
Saints and Jets Battle for Aaron Glenn as Head Coaching Carousel Heats Up
NFL insider Josina Anderson dropped a bombshell on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that both the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets are battling it out for the Lions DC. These teams see Glenn as the missing piece to revitalize their defenses.
There’s one league source I talk to who entering this week said they feel the #Saints and #Jets are going to end up battling it out over #Lions DC Aaron Glenn.
As the Carousel churns, I will update you on the latest pulse. pic.twitter.com/TgufuFvcZe
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 9, 2025
Glenn’s success with the Lions is legitimate. He’s taken a defense that was once bottom-tier and turned it into a squad that’s now a nightmare for opposing offenses. Despite the injury bug hitting hard — five starters and 12 players on IR — Glenn’s crew thrived. They capped it off with a jaw-dropping, no-touchdown, nine-point shutdown against the Minnesota Vikings to clinch a playoff spot.
Lions HC Dan Campbell had high praise for his defensive coordinator.
“He’s as good of a coach as you’re going to find,” Campbell said of Glenn. “He’s an even better human being. 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.”
With all six teams seeking a fresh head coach, including Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, and Las Vegas raiders, looking to speak with Glenn, his future is up for grabs. His efforts have propelled the Lions to a 15–2 season and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Glenn Transforms Lions Defense Into NFL Juggernaut
Glenn has worked some serious magic with the Lions’ defense. What was once a bottom-tier group is now a top-10 juggernaut. This season, the Lions ranked seventh in scoring defense, allowing just 20.1 points per game.
Despite sitting at 20th in total defense, they thrived when it mattered most — ranked first in third-down conversions (32.4%) and second in fourth-down conversions (41.7%).
Glenn’s defense finished No. 5 overall in PFN’s Defense+ metric, with PFN Analyst Ben Rolfe breaking down the impressive recent performance of the unit: “Detroit surged up five spots in the final rendition of these rankings with one of the most impressive defensive performances of the season.
“The Lions ended with their fourth-highest grade of the season (86.3, B) despite rolling out an injury-depleted MASH unit that also lost their top remaining cornerback, Terrion Arnold, to a foot injury.”
Cornerback Amik Robertson summed it up best. “A.G. is a great coach,” cornerback Robertson said in November. “He just puts guys in position, man. He tells us all the time, he calls the plays but the play is only going to work because of the players. He got those guys and he knows what guy he needs in this spot or this spot to make all of this work.”
The Lions’ defense went from ranking 23rd in points allowed last season to seventh in 2024 — huge growth. With Glenn’s knack for talent maximization and clutch adjustments, his future is shining bright. It’s no wonder teams are already lining up to talk head coach.