Report: Saints indeed request to interview Aaron Glenn for head coaching job

It was inevitable, but the New Orleans Saints have reportedly requested an interview with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

In the wake of Sean Payton’s decision to step down, the New Orleans Saints were immediately expected to interview Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn for their fresh head coaching opening. Now, that interview is indeed in line to happen.

As first reported by Albert Breer of SI.com, the Saints have requested an interview with Glenn for their head coaching job. ESPN’s Adam Schefter added a request has also been made by the Saints to interview Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, who remains available despite strong indications the Jacksonvile Jaguars are likely to hire him.

Glenn was the Saints’ defensive backs coach from 2016-2020, serving as a key cog in the development of Marcus Lattimore, Malcolm Jenkins and Marcus Williams as the entire New Orleans defense improved.

Is Aaron Glenn going to leave the Lions for the Saints?

Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has been considered the leader in the clubhouse to replace Payton, and he’s expected (naturally) to get an interview. While his previous head coaching experience wasn’t great (8-28 with the Oakland Raiders from 2012-2014), he has that point in his corner over Glenn, who only has one year as a coordinator under his belt. Allen also filled in this season when Payton missed a game due to COVID-19.

But the brass in New Orleans is plenty familiar with Glenn, and he’ll be a head coach at some point–perhaps sooner than later. He interviewed for the Denver Broncos head coaching job early in that team’s search, and was reported as someone who had surfaced on the periphery of a couple other head coaching searches.

Glenn remains unlikely to get a head coaching job after one season as a coordinator. But the Saints’ interest has to be considered real, and it’s not out of the question they’ll convince him to come back as the head coach.