Tag: Aaron Glenn

Aaron Glenn considered ‘a strong candidate’ for Titans head coach vacancy

Lions DC Aaron Glenn is reportedly considered “a strong candidate” for the Titans job.

As the Tennessee Titans continue to work through interviews for their head coaching vacancy, one ESPN reporter has revealed a potential favorite.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is considered “a strong candidate” for the job — and so much so that Graziano predicts the Titans will hire him.

My prediction for the next Titans coach: Aaron Glenn. I’ve been told by a couple of people close to this situation to keep an eye on Glenn as a strong candidate. The Titans are casting a wide and diverse net, and this is one of the tougher ones to call at this point, but Glenn has appeal as a former player, as a part of what Dan Campbell has built in Detroit and as the coordinator who graded out the best of any on either side of the ball in a recent NFLPA poll of players. He will get a head coach job sooner rather than later, and he could be the guy the Titans pick to work with GM Ran Carthon on their rebuild.

While Glenn is certainly qualified for the job and well-liked by his players, hiring him would amount to a lateral move, at best, from head coach Mike Vrabel, who was also a defensive-minded coach.

Adding to that, Glenn’s defenses in Detroit have been nothing to write home about. Since 2021, the Lions haven’t finished better than bottom-10 in points allowed.

As I’ve said all along, the Titans need to go in a totally different direction and prioritize hiring an offensive-minded coach to help them make the transition to a more modern offense that is built around quarterback Will Levis.

If the Titans were to go with a defensive-minded coach, my top choice would be Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who has had success in his current role.

Hiring Glenn would an unpopular and uninspiring move that would leave the fan base frustrated, to say the least.

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Dan Campbell explains how the Lions will handle head coaching interviews for his coordinators

Dan Campbell explains how the Lions will handle head coaching interviews for coordinators Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson while Detroit remains in the playoffs

There are currently seven head coaching vacancies around the NFL. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are each getting a lot of buzz as top candidates for those vacancies.

Both have already had requests from teams with openings to interview for those jobs. However, Detroit’s playoff progress makes it difficult for Glenn and Johnson to interview. They’ve got more urgent business going on, after all.

Head coach Dan Campbell supports them both as head coach candidates. Campbell also knows the limitations the Lions’ ongoing success places on their ability to interview for the openings.

Campbell talked about it during his press conference on Monday.

“Yeah, I mean, the best we can do is it’ll have to be Friday and a little bit of Saturday. So, Friday afternoon after practice is done, they’re going to have to crunch them in there,” Campbell said. “They’re already working on scheduling it. And then Saturday, there’ll be a small window in there after practice, before night meetings and that’s it.”

Five teams have requested interviews with Johnson, with four of them also wanting to interview Glenn.

Campbell made no bones about his belief in both as top candidates.

“First of all, they’re both – like I said, those are worthy candidates and I think they’re, both of them, should be at the top of everybody’s list.”

Several potential Commanders coaches in action on wild-card weekend

You can bet new Washington GM Adam Peters is watching this week’s playoff games very closely.

Washington Commanders’ new general manager, Adam Peters, was probably watching one Saturday playoff game closely.

The Houston Texans (4th seed) were hosting the Cleveland Browns (5th seed) in the first playoff game of the 2023 NFL season.

The reason Peters was probably watching closely was to observe the offense of Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

The Texans offense and defense both performed well, as the Texans surprised NFL fans, not in the fact that they won on their home field, but that the game was determined by the middle of the third quarter.

Houston won the game coasting to a 45-14 romp over the Browns. For Peters, he might have preferred the Texans offense to have been the primary reason for their 45 points. However, it was the Texans defense who, in the third quarter, intercepted two Joe Flacco passes, returning them for touchdowns.

As for the Texans offense, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was very efficient and effective, completing 16 of his 21 passes for 274 yards and three first-half touchdown passes. The Texans led 24-14 at the half, and the defense really sealed the win with two pic-sixes in the third quarter.

Slowik has been credited with his work in structuring an offense and overseeing the development of Stroud, who last year was playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

So we don’t get too carried away, Slowik’s Texans only ran 44 offensive plays compared the Browns 70. Yet, might that perhaps be the case because the Texans did average an impressive 8.1 yards per play? And this was against a playoff team?

Sunday, Peters will most likely be watching closely the playoff game in Detroit between the Rams and the Lions. Remember, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris are all said to be top head-coaching prospects in this year’s hiring cycle.

All 30 of the former Saints players competing in the playoffs

All 30 of the former Saints players competing in the playoffs, from Terron Armstead and Teddy Bridgewater to Sheldon Rankins and Willie Snead:

Who should New Orleans Saints fans pull for in the playoffs? A lot of fans may have already checked out now that the black and gold were eliminated, and some may be choosing their own personal favorites to win it all. But if you’re interested in keeping up with the former Saints on new teams, we’ve got everything you need.

There are plenty of players who suited up for New Orleans competing in the postseason, as are former Saints coaches like Frank Smith and Vic Fangio (with the Miami Dolphins) as well as former scouts like Omar Khan (the Pittsburgh Steelers general manager). To say nothing of former Saints assistant coaches Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn doing big things with the Detroit Lions. The division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only team in the playoffs without a single former Saints player on their roster.

Here’s a quick look at the former Saints players on each playoff team going into the wild-card round:

Lions coordinators Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn speak on interview requests

Aaron Glenn will take all of his interview requests. What about Ben Johnson?

It didn’t take long for the Washington Commanders to begin requesting permission to interview potential head coaching candidates after firing Ron Rivera Monday.

Two of the first names reported for Washington were both of the Detroit Lions coordinators: OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn.

Johnson is considered by most to be the most wanted candidate on the coaching market for 2024. He turned down opportunities last season to return to the Lions, which only increased his stock this time around. A former quarterback at the University of North Carolina, Johnson, 37, began his NFL coaching career with the Dolphins in 2012, gradually moving up until receiving his first coordinator position with the Lions in 2022.

Johnson’s work with quarterback Jared Goff has caught the attention of everyone across the NFL.

Glenn, 51, is a former NFL first-round pick who played 15 seasons. He started his coaching career in 2014, and his first coordinator job came with the Lions in 2021.

The Lions have had a remarkable turnaround under head coach Dan Campbell, with his coordinators receiving a lot of praise for that turnaround. And when you have the type of success Detroit had this year, other teams notice.

As of Friday, five teams have requested permission to speak with Johnson. Four teams have requested permission to speak with Glenn.

On Thursday, both coaches spoke about that interest.

“It’s — it’s awesome, quite an honor,” Johnson said. “But I honestly haven’t thought about it beyond anything that’s going on this week.”

Will Johnson take each of those interviews?

“Don’t know, yeah,” he answered.

Glenn, on the other hand, will take each of his interview requests.

“Will I take them all?” he answered. “I mean, yeah.”

“Well, listen, I’m flattered by the interview requests, I really am,” Glenn said. And, man, I do not want this to sound like coach-speak, but I try to focus on the main thing for this team, for this organization, because this is a big deal for us. ”

Johnson is in more of a position to turn down interview requests. That’s not to knock Glenn, but Detroit’s offense was much more successful than the defense. And the Carolina Panthers are known to badly want Johnson — a North Carolina native.

Can the Commanders convince Johnson to come to Washington and groom a young quarterback — the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL draft? It could be either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye — a fellow UNC alum like Sam Howell.

Falcons request interview with Lions DC Aaron Glenn

The #Falcons have requested an interview with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn

The Atlanta Falcons continue to work their way through the top head-coaching candidates, requesting multiple interviews on Thursday morning. Both Detroit Lions coordinators are on the Falcons’ list.

After an earlier report that Atlanta requested an interview with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, the team has done the same with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Johnson gets all the credit, but Glenn has played an equally important role in helping the Lions go from the laughing stock of the league to a contender.

Glenn, a former NFL defensive back who was drafted in the first round back in 1994, took a job in Detroit after spending five years in New Orleans as a defensive backs coach. He was recently voted as the NFL’s top defensive coordinator by the players in a poll held by the NFLPA.

Stay up to date with each Falcons interview request using our head coach tracker!

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Titans request to interview Lions DC Aaron Glenn for head coach job

The Titans have reportedly requested to interview Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn for their head coach job.

The Tennessee Titans have reportedly put in their first request to interview a candidate for their head coaching vacancy.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Titans have put in a request to speak with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn.

This is the second coach who the Titans reportedly have interest in to replace former head coach Mike Vrabel.

Earlier in the day, Justin Melo of The Draft Network reported that the Titans are expected to interview Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator, Brian Callahan, although he did not say the team had requested an interview yet.

After a 15-year career in the NFL, Glenn has worked as a scout (New York Jets), assistant defensive backs coach (Cleveland Browns), defensive backs coach (New Orleans Saints) and defensive coordinator (Lions).

He’s been the DC in Detroit since 2021 but the defense has never finished better than 23rd in points allowed per game, which is where the unit was ranked this season.

However, as owner Amy Adams Strunk said, it’s vital that candidates show her a staff that can bring a fresh perspective to the team, so any candidate who can accomplish that will have a shot, even if they aren’t offensive-minded.

Follow along with all of the latest updates in the Titans’ head coach search with our interview tracker right here.

Justin Herbert ready to give input on next head coach and general manager for Chargers

Justin Herbert is prepared to give his input on who should be the next head coach and general manager.

As the face of the franchise, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is prepared to give his input on who should be the next head coach and general manager. 

“Having been in the league for four years, I hope that I’m getting better with understanding and seeing things the way they are,” Herbert said.

The Chargers are currently looking for Brandon Staley’s and Tom Telesco’s replacements. In a statement made soon after their release, owner Dean Spanos shared that the organization’s focus would be “building and maintaining a championship-caliber program.”

Herbert signed a multi-year contract extension last July, meaning he will be the leader of the Chargers for the forseeable future. With Herbert at the helm, he knows the team’s success is part of his responsibility. 

“I know that they’re working on that and we have complete faith and trust in the front office to do their job and they’ve done a great job so far,” Herbert said. “Hopefully I’m able to talk with them and offer whatever advice I have.

We’ve got complete trust in them and if they came to me and they needed my viewpoint, my perspective, I’d love to offer it,” Herbert said. “But like I said, I believe in them. They’ve done such a great job taking care of us as players.”

The status of the organization is currently at a crossroads. If the Chargers get it right, they can make the team successful with Herbert as its figurehead and smart personnel. But if they get this wrong, it’ll be a never-ending sob story for the franchise.

Chargers head coach, general manager interview tracker

Here is a running list of the head coaching and GM candidates the Chargers have requested to interview or have interviewed.

After parting ways with Brandon Staley during the 2023 regular season, Chargers owner Dean Spanos is in search of the new head coach.

Additionally, Spanos will be looking to fill the general manager void left by Tom Telesco, who was relieved of his duties after ten years in the role.

To keep you up to date with who they will be interviewing for the head coaching and general manager positions, we have created this tracker.

Chargers request interviews with 6 head coach candidates

The Chargers wasted no time getting to business on Day 1 of the offseason as they requested interviews with six head coaching candidates.

The Chargers wasted no time getting to business on Day 1 of the offseason as they requested interviews with six head coaching candidates.

The early list includes Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

Johnson appears to be the hottest offensive coordinator candidate of the cycle, as he appears at the top of several teams’ odds lists. So far, he’s the only interview request candidate whose name has appeared on Chargers’ HC futures in sportsbooks. Johnson has been one of the engines in the Lions’ red-hot resurgence with Jared Goff. Playmakers like Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown have broken out under his watch in Detroit.

Glenn has been the defensive coordinator of the Lions for three seasons while boasting nearly a decade of coaching on his resume. He also has 15 seasons worth of NFL playing experience as a cornerback.

Wilks has head coaching experience with the Cardinals and an interim stint with Carolina. He has nearly 30 years of coaching experience between college and the NFL stints. He was the Chargers’ defensive backs coach from 2009 to 2011 before joining Ron Rivera’s staff in Carolina.

Graham has overseen the defenses of the Dolphins, Giants and Raiders. In 2023, Las Vegas finished eighth in points allowed and 11th in passing yards allowed.

Of note with Wilks, Glenn and Graham: They would fulfill the Rooney Rule requirement of interviewing external minority candidates.

After taking the Falcons to the Super Bowl as their head coach in 2016, Quinn became the defensive coordinator of the Cowboys in 2021 and quickly transformed their defense into one of the best units in the league.

Monken has revitalized the Ravens’ offense in his return to the pros behind an MVP campaign from Lamar Jackson. The two-time CFP national champion at Georgia also has offensive coordinator stops with Tampa Bay and Cleveland in the pros.

This list will presumably grow over the coming days, but these four names represent a start. Being that he’s not NFL personnel, Jim Harbaugh would not require a formal interview request.

The Chargers will also likely have a handful of names for general managers they’d like to interview. Considering the reported interest in Harbaugh, Colts’ assistant general manager Ed Dodds may make sense for an interview request.