It's not surprising that the Detroit Lions' coordinators are being highly sought after for head coaching jobs, even with a compressed window to do virtual interviews before last week's game. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson even did a virtual interview with the Atlanta Falcons after the Divisional Round win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On Monday, head coach Dan Campbell took an opportunity to laud Glenn's qualifications to be a head coach.
"He’s got great vision for putting a plan together. He understands football very well, and when you start talking about his leadership, he’s one of these guys, he’s special. He’s special. He’s got it. His ability to communicate, to relate, to push, to grind, to love, demand, he’s got it all. He’s an outstanding communicator, he’s an outstanding teacher, and I mean he just -- he is. That’s what I say, I’m fortunate that he’s on staff with me.
The Falcons also did a virtual interview with Glenn last Friday. According to ESPN Falcons' beat writer Michael Rothstein, Atlanta has submitted requests for in-person interviews with both Lions' coordinators.
According to a source, the Falcons are putting in slips for second, in-person interview requests with Lions OC Ben Johnson AND Lions DC Aaron Glenn.
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) January 23, 2024
These interviews can't take place until next week.
As Rothstein noted those interviews can't take place until next week, after the conference title games. Should the Lions advance, the week between the conference title game and the Super Bowl would be open for Johnson and Glenn to do head coaching interviews.
The Falcons are not the only team to submit requests to interview Johnson and Glenn a second time, in-person. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Washington Commanders have done so too.
The #Commanders and #Falcons are both expected to send a contingent to Detroit next week to conduct second interviews with #Lions OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 23, 2024
No more interviews are permitted with coaches still in the playoffs until after Sunday's games.
2 teams, for now, want to do in-person interviews with Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn
Johnson feels like the prohibitive favorite for the Commanders' job, but they are still doing a thorough search in the meantime. It's fair to assume the new leadership will wait for Johnson if he's their top guy.
The Falcons have talked extensively with Bill Belichick, and he seems like the No. 1 candidate there. They've also interviewed Jim Harbaugh. But they too are casting a wide net in their search. Glenn's tie to general manager Terry Fontenot, from their shared time in New Orleans, makes the Lions' defensive coordinator a sneaky candidate there until they hire someone.
The Falcons and the Commanders want to have in-person interviews with Johnson and Glenn when they can. They surely won't be the only ones.