With what he has done to coax good play out of an injury-riddled unit, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will be highly-coveted for head coaching jobs in the upcoming hiring cycle. In some way, he could be considered more likely than offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to leave the Lions for a head coaching job.
Of course only three teams have openings right now, the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants. More are coming of course, but those are the three that are known and none of three are likely to retain their interim head coach.
Glenn has ties to two of the openings, having played for the Jets and Saints and or course spending five seasons on the coaching staff in New Orleans before following Dan Campbell to Detroit. Multiple reports have already tied him to both, in terms of his own possible interest or their likely interest in him.
It's also fair to say the Jets and Saints' jobs both have noticeable drawbacks, so Glenn will surely entertain other options that come.
Related: 4 potential candidates to replace Aaron Glenn as Lions' defensive coordinator
New reports only confirm teams that will most want Aaron Glenn as their next head coach
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer took a broad look at the upcoming coaching carousel. In mention of the Jets' head coaching job, Breer noted candidates who would be "ready for the unique challenges in that market", "with experience in the organization" or the "temperament for New York" as being the best fits" with a follow-up mention of Glenn.
"That makes the former Jet, Glenn, a name to watch in New Jersey, but the Jets likely won’t be the only team after the Lions’ defensive coordinator. I’d expect the New Orleans Saints—who have hinted they’d like a person connected to the organization and with experience—to have Glenn high on their list."
Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network have reinforced Glenn as a top candidate for the Saints.
"The feeling in league circles is that general manager Mickey Loomis will lean toward someone he knows, with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn -- who narrowly lost out to Allen last time around -- a frequent name mentioned."
It's no surprise the Jets and Saints covet Glenn as they approach going full-force into their searches for a new head coach, and these new reports only lock that they'll want him for an interview. The fresh news will come when Glenn is closely tied to a different opening, where he doesn't have clear ties to the organization.