Category: Coaching Search

Aaron Glenn to interview with four teams during bye week

Aaron Glenn to interview with four teams during bye week, all virtually from Detroit

Lions defensive coordinator was already viewed as a top-tier candidate for a head-coaching position for 2025. He’ll now get his chance to make the rounds and state his case.

According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Glenn will have a virtual interview with four of the five teams with an opening at the position. Glenn will interview with the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars. He does not have anything set up as of yet with the New England Patriots.

Glenn will interview with the teams between Thursday and Saturday. Per NFL rules, all of his initial interviews must be virtual. Glenn is able to take these interviews with the Lions earning the first-round bye. Had the Lions not secured the bye, Glenn would not have been able to interview until three days after their Wild Card playoff.

Glenn could land a second interview with these teams either after the Lions’ season ends or the bye week before the Super Bowl, whichever comes first. He is not able to interview during Super Bowl week. Any contract signing or announcement cannot happen until after the employer team’s season ends.

The prevailing thought is that Glenn will end up as a head coach somewhere in 2025. The question is where. The first step comes this week. But as long as the Lions are still playing, the next step may not come for a few weeks.

Coaching rumors already hitting Lions’ Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson

Coaching rumors already hitting Lions’ Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson on NFL’s Black Monday, but they’re nothing but rumors at this point

The day after the NFL regular season concludes is referred to as “Black Monday” for all the coaches who lose their jobs. This year is no different, with fresh openings in New England and Jacksonville in the last 24 hours.

For the Detroit Lions, the postseason is just starting. If there are coaching changes on Dan Campbell’s staff coming down the line, it will be out of necessity to replace an assistant (or two) who leaves for one of those vacancies. And we’re going to hear a lot about coordinators Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson as prime candidates for those openings.

The rumor mill is already spinning at warp speed. Johnson has been bantered about as the next potential coach of the Bears, Jets and Saints — all teams who fired coaches in-season. Detroit’s offensive coordinator has been coveted all season after interviews and dalliances with the Panthers, Colts and Commanders for head coaching vacancies in the last couple of offseasons.

Aaron Glenn is getting his love on the head coaching front after Detroit’s brilliantly suffocating performance in the Week 18 win over the Vikings. He’s already been connected to the Jets, Bears and Saints as someone those teams want to interview

 

It’s a good, healthy problem to have for Dan Campbell and the Lions. It’s part of the grind of trying to stay on top. Great coordinators will get opportunities elsewhere; that’s part of the expectation. Glenn and Johnson have earned the attention and the interviews, should they choose to try and land one of the head coaching gigs.

 

Ben Johnson spotlights Lions offensive assistants with higher coaching ceilings

Ben Johnson spotlights Lions offensive assistants with higher coaching ceilings that could be moving up–or potentially on from Detroit

Ben Johnson opened up the bag of tricks once again in the Detroit Lions Week 16 win over the Chicago Bears. The “stumblerooski” worked like a charm, with Jared Goff hitting Sam LaPorta for a touchdown pass after Goff and RB Jahmyr Gibbs feigned a fumbled handoff exchange.

In his weekly press briefing, the Lions offensive coordinator was quick to share credit with three of his assistants. Johnson specifically noted assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett, assistant OL coach Steve Oliver and assistant receivers coach Seth Ryan for their creative input in devising all the Lions “special” offensive plays that have become a trademark staple of Johnson’s Detroit offense.

“I think we’ve got position coaches that are future coordinators and future head coaches, and I think we’ve got some really good young coaches that are going to be ready to be position coaches sooner rather than later,” Johnson said. He then listed names that Lions fans should probably be more aware of going forward if they didn’t know them already.

“Seth Ryan, Steve Oliver and J.T. Barrett, they’ve been in charge of our specials (trick plays) for not just this year, but for the last few years, and there’s a reason why we have probably a little higher success rate for those special plays, and they’re a big reason why,” Johnson said. “They have a ton of creativity. They bring a lot of ideas to the table, so I really wanted to start off here today by giving them a shoutout. They’ve been doing a great job here for the last three years, and they’re certainly deserving of more responsibility, not only here, but maybe elsewhere as well, wherever that opportunity unfolds.”

It’s that last statement that raises eyebrows. The Lions would have to replace Johnson if he leaves, and the most likely candidates are internal ones — namely the trio Johnson listed.

Of course, Johnson could be more inclined to take Barrett, Oliver and Ryan with him as his offensive staff on another team. Barrett, especially, is seen as a rising coaching star around the league and figures to get looks as an offensive coordinator or passing game coordinator this offseason. Sticking with the Lions, or jumping with Johnson to become his offensive coordinator, appears to be a viable option for Barrett.

Lions assistant Scottie Montgomery is part of this year’s NFL coach accelerator program

Lions assistant Scottie Montgomery is part of this year’s NFL coach accelerator program

Every year, the NFL invites several younger assistant coaches to a developmental program. One of this year’s invitees to the NFL Coach Accelerator program is Lions assistant head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery.

This edition took place at the NFL’s spring meeting in Nashville during the week. Montgomery, who previously participated in the program while he was a member of the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff, is considered a rising star in the coaching ranks and does have pervious head coaching experience at the college level.

More about the Coach Accelerator program from the NFL’s press release,

The accelerator serves as a platform for clubs and owners to engage with qualified coaching candidates from diverse backgrounds. Candidates can build relationships with club owners and executives and further develop and hone their leadership skills. To date, the program has successfully contributed to an increase in diverse candidates being interviewed for open positions, and many past participants have been promoted and hired into more senior coaching positions.

Dre Bly, John Fox among the coaches moving on from the Lions

Dre Bly, John Fox among the coaches moving on from the Lions after the 2023 season

In light of the official hiring of three new defensive coaches, the Detroit Lions also had to subtract a few coaches from the team.

A couple of the departures were already known. Defensive line coach John Scott was replaced during Senior Bowl week by new DL coach and run game coordinator Terrell Williams. DBs coach Brian Duker left for the Miami Dolphins last week.

One more positional coach has also been let go. Cornerbacks coach Dre Bly no longer appears on the team’s coaching roster. Like Scott, Bly was brought in from the college ranks for the 2023 season. His group didn’t show a lot of progress, and his departure is not exactly a surprise.

Defensive quality control coach Wayne Blair is also no longer with the team. His contract expired and was not renewed.

Two senior assistant coaches have also moved on. Former NFL head coach John Fox won’t be back in 2024 after one season as a defensive assistant. Longtime NFL coach Jim Hostler is also out after one year as a senior offensive assistant in Detroit.

Lions officially hire three new defensive coaches

The Lions officially added 3 new defensive coaches to the den on Wednesday

The Detroit Lions filled out their 2024 coaching staff by hiring three new additions.

Deshea Townsend and Terrell Williams were already known to be joining the team. Townsend takes over as the defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator for the Lions. He spent the last two seasons in those same roles for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Williams was hired back in January, but the move to appoint him as the new defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator is now officially recognized. The longtime DL coach was previously with the Tennessee Titans. He was once Lions GM Brad Holmes’ position coach in the college ranks.

The third hire is one that hadn’t been previously revealed. Jim O’Neil joins the Lions as a defensive assistant. O’Neil has been in the coaching ranks at a number of stops since 2001 and was most recently the defensive coordinator at Northwestern. He’s primarily worked with defensive backs but did spend two seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.

Reports indicate the Lions are adding a new defensive passing game coordinator

Reports indicate the Lions are adding a new defensive passing game coordinator in longtime NFL DB Deshea Townsend

There appears to be another coaching addition to the Detroit Lions defensive staff. Multiple reports indicate the Lions are hiring former Jaguars defensive passing game coordinator Deshea Townsend to the same role in Detroit.

Townsend, 48, spent two years in that role in Jacksonville. The Lions did not have a named passing game coordinator on defense in 2023. Townsend will join defensive run game coordinator Terrell Williams, who was reportedly hired away from the Tennessee Titans during the Senior Bowl week.

Most notable for his 12 seasons playing defensive back with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Townsend has been coaching DBs in the NFL and college since 2011.

There is no word yet on whether the reported move has any impact on current Lions CB coach Dre Bly or defensive backs coach Biran Duker.

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Report: Lions to hire new DL coach and defensive run game coordinator

Report: Lions to hire Terrell Williams as the DL coach and defensive run game coordinator

There is an assistant coaching shakeup on the Lions staff coming. According to Diana Russini of The Athletic, the Lions are adding a defensive run game coordinator and defensive line coach to the mix.

Russini reported that the Lions are hiring Titans assistant coach Terrell Williams to be Detroit’s defensive run game coordinator and DL coach. Williams is currently serving as a coach for hte American team at the Senior Bowl.

The 2023 Lions did not have a defensive run game coordinator. They do still have their defensive line coach, John Scott, under employment as of the time of the report. Scott joined the Lions for the 2023 season after serving as a defensive coach for the Penn State football program. There is no word on Scott’s status.

As for Williams, he has been with the Titans since the 2018 season, serving as Tennessee’s DL coach. The title of assistant head coach was added for the 2023 season. Before that, he worked in Miami. That includes a stint with Lions head coach Dan Campbell in 2015 when Campbell was the interim head coach for the Dolphins.

Two more head coaching jobs filled while Lions assistants keep playing on

Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn are still prepping the Lions for the NFC Championship game while 2 more head coaching jobs got filled

Detroit Lions assistant coaches Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson are busy preparing the team for the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. But they’re also head coaching candidates for several of the vacancies around the league.

There are two less of those vacancies now that there were 24 hours ago.

On Wednesday night, news broke that Jim Harbaugh was leaving Michigan and the college ranks behind to accept the head coaching gig with the Los Angeles Chargers. That’s a position that both Glenn and Johnson interviewed for last weekend.

Some 18 hours later, multiple reports indicate the Carolina Panthers have hired Dave Canales as their new head coach. Canales, 42, was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023 after spending years as an offensive assistant with the Seattle Seahawks.

While Glenn never interviewed with the Panthers, Johnson was an early favorite to be offered the position. He was the top choice for Panthers owner Dave Tepper last offseason, when Johnson pulled his name from consideration after interviewing with Carolina.

Johnson is still regarded as a prime candidate for the Washington Commanders head coaching vacancy. One report on Thursday even had Johnson as “a lock” to be the new coach there, though that remains to be seen.

Titans to hire Bengals OC Brian Callahan as head coach

Titans hire Bengals OC Brian Callahan as head coach, which means Tennessee didn’t hire Aaron Glenn or Ben Johnson

The Tennessee Titans have themselves a new head coach. Tennessee has decided on Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as the new head coach, succeeding Mike Vrabel.

The Titans opening was one that Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn interviewed for over the weekend, and Glenn was considered by some as one of the favorites to land the position. Cross that one off the list.

There are still five head coaching vacancies after Callahan’s hiring, and also the Raiders option to keep interim head coach Antonio Pierce for their gig. Both Glenn and Lions OC Ben Johnson have interviewed for the openings with the Chargers and Commanders.

Callahan, 39, had been the Bengals offensive coordinator for the last three seasons. He’s known for his work with QB Joe Burrow and also the surprising development of Burrow’s backup, Jake Browning. He is the son of longtime NFL offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who currently serves in that role for the Browns.