The Detroit Lions have two of the most popular coordinators in this years coaching search. This week we'll be profiling both candidates and explaining why they are so sought after by other teams. We'll start with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Experience

Glenn has been around the NFL for the last 30 years.  Glenn was once the 12th overall pick in the 1994 NFL draft. He spent his playing days with the Jets, Texans, Cowboys, Jaguars and Saints. 

In terms of coaching, Glenn got his start in 2014 after spending two seasons with Jets as a personnel scout. He spent two years with the Browns as a assistant defensive backs coach before spending four years on Sean Payton's staff in New Orleans as the Saints defensive backs coach. When Dan Campbell left the Saints for Detroit, he took Glenn with him to be his DC. 

Strengths 

The strengths are huge for Aaron Glenn. He is a players coach and there isn't a player on the Lions that doesn't respect him. Glenn recently received more votes than any coordinator in the NFL in an NFLPA poll to find the most liked coordinator in the league. They polled 1,700 players in this thing. That's pretty much every player in league. 

Glenn isn't just a guy that players like. He's a leader of men. That's been the biggest thing about him that you constantly hear from the Lions locker room. As a former player, he just understands the value of what his experience can bring to the table and he has found a way for a very young defense to understand that and buy in. 

Dan Campbell deserves a ton of the praise for what he's done in rebuilding the Lions culture, but Aaron Glenn is a massive part of that as well. He was very instrumental in getting things turned around here. 

In an era where gurus and analytics guys are proving to not work out in terms of leading a team, a guy like Dan Campbell is starting to become one of the new coaching types. A leader who's great with installing culture and knows how to hire and find talent. Aaron Glenn is an extension of that.  

Weaknesses

The thing that might hold Glenn back in the coaching search is that the Lions defense isn't a top 10 unit. They aren't demolishing teams on a weekly basis. Frankly, the Lions defense is this teams weakness. 

The Lions defense is one of the youngest groups in the league and the personnel on the field often reflects that. With that said, Glenn has the Lions defense right in the middle of the pack in the NFL despite that due to creatively finding ways to use the talent that he does have. 

The Lions are 19th in the league in yards allowed and 23rd in points allowed. It's worth noting that the Lions were dead last in yards allowed in 2022 and the Lions run defense went from the third worst in 2022 to the second best in 2023. 

Still, it's just not that great. Typically teams are stealing away guys who led some of the top defenses in the league. Guys like Brandon Staley and Matt Patricia. Both of those guys failed miserably by the way. But there are guys like Demeco Ryans who can change an organization in a years time. I think Ryans and Glenn have a lot in common in terms of being culture builders. We'll see if Glenn can do it defensively as a head coach.

I'm really interested to see what Glenn could do with a defense that has more experience and some more Pro Bowl level talent. 

Best fits

The Titans are the team that comes to mind as a great fit. I think there's some pieces on that Titans defense that can do some good things and Glenn can help them get there. 

The Commanders and the Falcons are also tow other good options. Two teams that could use a guy that could lead them in favor of the erratic disciplinarian that Ron Rivera is and the mess that Arthur Smith was. 

Detroit Lions coordinator interview tracker

Black Monday in the NFL has passed. All the coaches that were likely to be let go, have been let go. So here's the job openings as of right now in case any of you want to apply or, more seriously, so you can take a look at who's taking a look at the Lions […]