NFL Rumors: Lions' Aaron Glenn Drawing More 'Buzz' as HC Candidate Than In the Past

Aaron Glenn is reportedly drawing the attention of other teams in his fourth season as Detroit Lions defensive coordinator.

Glenn "is generating more NFL buzz than in the past," according to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler.

"His name comes up more often in league circles than I remember, and that's not just in relation to the Saints job, to which he has ties as a former assistant coach there," Fowler wrote. "He has always had leadership traits, and now he has the proof of concept with Detroit's surging defense."

Glenn's defense shone on Sunday as the Lions shut out the Houston Texans in the second half in order to allow the offense to recover from a 16-point defense.

After five years as a defensive backs coach for the New Orleans Saints, Glenn joined the Lions before the 2021 season.

The Lions picked off two passes by Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud and forced four punts in the second half.

Detroit finished out the game having held the Texans to just 56 yards on the ground, while making four sacks for 40 yards.

Glenn was also connected to head coaching rumors ahead of the 2024 season. ESPN's Dan Graziano described him as a "strong candidate" to serve as head coach for the Tennessee Titans, and he was reportedly a finalist for the role with the Washington Commanders.

The Titans instead hired former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, while the Commanders went for former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

This time around it could be Glenn's turn, as the Lions' defense ranks sixth in rush defense and eighth in points allowed throughout the team's 8-1 start to the 2024 season despite losing star edge rusher and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aidan Hutchinson to a broken leg in Week 6.

Glenn, who played 15 NFL seasons as a cornerback after he was drafted by the New York Jets in 1994, served as a scout for the Jets and an assistant for the Cleveland Browns before joining the Saints and Lions.

He might not be the only coordinator the Lions could lose after this season, as offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has also been previously connected to head coaching roles. The Lions will hope to make a run to the Super Bowl before Glenn and Johnson consider seeking a promotion with another team.