As expected, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn had a full slate of head coaching interviews during the team's bye week. He would have talked to all six teams that had an opening, if not for turning down the New England Patriots' request as they completed a search that landed where it was inevitable it would.
Now, Glenn has to wait until at least after the Lions' Divisional Round game to do second, in-person interviews and the Lions would have to lose to the Washington Commanders. The Dallas Cowboys have also replaced the Patriots as a team with a head coaching opening, with their decision to part ways with Mike McCarthy on Monday. So there are six openings again.
Two inevitable favorites have emerged for Glenn's services as a head coach, as Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported Sunday he "crushed" his initial round of interviews.
So let's rank the six current head coaching openings for Glenn, based on the appeal of the jobs.
Ranking the appeal of the remaining head coaching jobs for Aaron Glenn
6. Dallas Cowboys
The timing is just bad here, as the Cowboys now have to wait to talk to Glenn, Ben Johnson or anyone from the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff until after their seasons end or after the Super Bowl. Jerry Jones dragged his feet to dismiss Mike McCarthy, with what feels like a half-hearted attempt to retain him as the initial wave of head coaching interviews was going on, so he got what he deserved there.
And Jones is what makes the job in Dallas less appealing. He hires head coaches that he actively neuters in terms of any weight in the organization. Then he equips said coaches with rosters that are top-heavy, talent barren or a mix of both.
An interview request from Cowboys won't even be able to credibly come in for at least a week. So for Glenn, they easily land in last-place here.
5. New Orleans Saints
Glenn has been regarded as the favorite for the Saints' job going back a but, with McCarthy seemingly joining him as co-favorite now.
The Saints carry plenty of red flags. Their salary cap deficit heading into the offseason is an annual thing ($57.74 million in the red right now, according to Over The Cap, in terms of effective cap space). Tony Pauline of Sportkeeda also recently reported long-time Saints general manager Mickey Loomis would prefer to keeps several coaches on the existing staff, and Glenn was believed to be open to that. The idea of keeping several existing assistant coaches should actually be a huge red flag for Glenn, or any head coaching candidate.
It's unclear how much Glenn covets the Saints' job. But he should leave aside connection he has from his time as an assistant coach there, and keep his options all the way open.
4. Chicago Bears
It seems the Bears would (should) prioritize hiring an offensive-minded head coach, with developing quarterback Caleb Williams as the organization's clear No. 1 priority over anything else. But they also may not want to pigeonhole themselves that way.
The Bears are in a good position in relation to the salary cap ($54.5 million in effective space right now), and eight picks in April's draft to add more talent to a roster that is not barren.
The Bears need a culture setter and a leader of men as much as a coach, and Glenn can be that. If he can get the right offensive coordinator to come with him, Chicago could be a good fit.
3. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders apparently have serious eyes for Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and they are doing all they can to give him what he wants. But the clean slate they can offer to Johnson can be offered to any head coaching candidate, with ample draft capital (four of the top-75 picks, 10 picks overall in this year's draft) and lots of cap space (the second-most in the league right now).
The Raiders tried to buy into the Antonio Pierce was a coach who could set their culture in the right direction. Glenn would seem to be similar on that front as a culture-setter, except he can actually coach.
2. New York Jets
The Jets drafted Glenn, and he spent his first eight seasons as a player there. The enlisting of former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum to help with their searches or new football leadership, as part of his work with The 33rd Team, bolstered their inevitable pursuit of Glenn in their head coaching search.
The Jets have to figure out their quarterback situation (what else is new?), as Aaron Rodgers either retires or plays elsewhere next season. But whoever the quarterback is will have some good young pieces around him (Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson), and the core of a good defense is in place.
There are red flags with the Jets too, primarily owner Woody Johnson and the organizational dysfunction he has reigned over. Not having a ton of cap space right now is also less than ideal, but eight draft picks this year with a top-10 pick is not too bad. The general manager hire here could come in quick tandem with the head coaching hire.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars did a half-measure (at least for now) to appeal to Johnson before their round of initial head coaching interviews. Aside from not firing general manager Trent Baalke (yet), there is a lot of appeal to the situation in Jacksonville-a young quarterback who would benefit from finally having a credible head coach (regardless of what side of the ball their background is on), some talent already in place, a solid amount of draft capital this year and a solid amount of cap space right now.
If the Jaguars miss out on Johnson, Glenn would be a very nice fallback option and he (per Jones' aforementioned report) impressed them in a first interview. The personnel needs upgrades and better-fitting players in some key areas, but Glenn could lead a quick resurgence in Jacksonville like Dan Quinn has in Washington.
