Aaron Glenn marks the fifth candidate on New England’s radar for head coach.
The New England Patriots will check twice when it comes to the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
The organization has put in a request to interview Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn for its vacant head coach position, as reported Wednesday by TheMMQB’s Albert Breer.
Glenn, 52, now stands with requests from all six NFL teams with openings at the top. He joins offensive coordinator Ben Johnson on the radar in Foxborough amid the January bye week. Detroit finished the 2024 regular season at 15-2, while the defensive side allowed a 61.1 completion percentage and league-low 82.0 passer rating.
Opposing quarterbacks found 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions through the air. And on the ground, 98.4 rushing yards were allowed per game despite losing the likes of defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, linebacker Derrick Barnes and cornerback Carlton Davis to injured reserve.
Selected in the first round of the 1994 NFL draft, Glenn’s playing career spanned 205 games through stops with the New York Jets, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints. The Texas A&M product retired as a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback with 639 tackles, one sack, five forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. He also had a hand in 41 interceptions, returning six for touchdowns.
A former personnel scout in Florham Park, Glenn moved on from the AFC East to serve as the assistant defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2014 through 2015. He then spent four seasons as the defensive backs coach in New Orleans before being named Detroit’s defensive coordinator under head coach Dan Campbell in 2021.
Since Sunday’s firing of Jerod Mayo after his lone season as head coach, the 4-13 Patriots have conducted interviews with Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich in person. Mike Vrabel is scheduled to revisit Gillette Stadium on Thursday, while Detroit’s offensive play-caller in Johnson will reportedly meet virtually on Friday.