Report: New Orleans Saints request permission to interview Detroit Lions DC Aaron Glenn

The New Orleans Saints have officially started the process of looking to hire the 19th head coach in their history. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, New Orleans has interest in Aaron Glenn and has put in a request to interview the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator.

Glenn, defensive backs coach for the Saints from 2016-2020, was runner-up for the job in 2022 when New Orleans eventually hired Dennis Allen. The Saints will have competition for Glenn’s services, as the Chicago Bears and New York Jets have also requested interviews with him, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Glenn, 52, is one of the more in-demand coaches this hiring cycle despite having never been a head coach in the NFL. Glenn has been Detroit’s defensive play-caller since 2021, and his side of the ball has shown steady improvement since then. The Lions had the league’s 29th-ranked defense in Glenn’s first season, 32nd in 2022, 19th in 2023 and 20th this season.

Detroit has dealt with numerous injuries on defense this season and despite this, the team finished the regular season 15-2. Glenn crafted a masterpiece in Sunday’s Week 18 home game against the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 1 seed in the NFC on the line. Glenn’s defense held a potent Vikings offense to just 262 total yards and surrendered only nine points. Minnesota failed to get into the end zone as the Lions picked up a 31-9 victory.

Aaron Glenn confident in Lions defense amid injuries

Several players have become stars in Glenn’s defense, including edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, linebacker Jack Campbell and defensive backs Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph among others.

Glenn may very well land a head coaching job this cycle. But for now, his main focus is helping the Lions advance far in the postseason. Even with six defensive starters on injured reserve, Glenn believes his defense is good enough to hoist a Lombardi Trophy.

“You’re damn right we can do it,” Glenn said this past Thursday. “The thing that we have to continue to do is make these impact plays that we’ve been making and we’re going to continue to do that.”