Over the past two seasons, the Detroit Lions have emerged as one of the NFL’s top teams, thanks in large part to the efforts of their coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn.
While Johnson’s offense has been lauded for its exciting and dynamic play, Glenn’s defense has been equally impressive. Despite being hit hard by injuries this season and losing several key starters, Glenn’s unit allowed just 20.1 points per game and 98.4 rushing yards per game in the regular season—both ranking in the NFL’s top ten.
Glenn’s ability to maximize his players’ potential and craft effective game plans against strong offenses has drawn attention from other teams.
The Texas native has received significant interest for head coaching roles, with multiple interview requests coming in this week. However, Glenn made headlines on Thursday by declining an opportunity to interview with one AFC team.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Glenn turned down a head coaching interview request from the New England Patriots. He is, however, scheduled to meet with five other teams in the coming days.
Below is the schedule of Glenn’s upcoming interviews, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Thursday PM: New York Jets
Friday AM: New Orleans Saints
Friday PM: Las Vegas Raiders
Saturday AM: Jacksonville Jaguars
Saturday PM: Chicago Bears
Glenn is making the most of the Lions’ bye week after the team clinched the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings. With a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, Glenn has time to focus on these head coaching opportunities.
While rejecting an interview request is unusual, it’s likely due to Glenn’s packed schedule and potential lack of interest in the Patriots’ vacancy. As one of the most sought-after candidates this offseason, turning down one opportunity won’t impact his standing in the coaching market.
