NFL Rumors: Aaron Glenn Favored to be Saints HC; Cowboys' McCarthy May Have Interest

Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was the talk of the NFL world as his unit stymied the Minnesota Vikings during Sunday's win to clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed, and he may parlay that buzz into the head-coaching position of the New Orleans Saints.

ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler reported on the Saints' vacancy Thursday with the latter noting "Glenn still seems like the favorite" even though the NFC South team is interested in Mike Vrabel, interim coach Darren Rizzi, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.

Fowler also reported Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy might be interested as well with his contract set to expire Tuesday.

But it might be Glenn's job to lose.

"Agreed that Glenn seems like the favorite in New Orleans," Graziano wrote. "He's extremely well regarded in that building and very well known because he previously worked there."

The Lions D.C. is familiar with the Saints after working as a defensive backs coach for the team from 2016 through 2020. He was an assistant defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns before that and then took his current job starting with the 2021 campaign.

New Orleans reached the playoffs in each of the last four years of Glenn's tenure and has not been back to the postseason since he left for Detroit. The 2018 Saints went as far as the NFC Championship Game.

The 2020 Saints finished fourth in yards allowed and fifth in points allowed as defensive backs such as Malcolm Jenkins and Marson Lattimore played well under Glenn's leadership.

Glenn has further demonstrated his leadership this season while helping lead the Lions to the best record in the NFC despite a number of injuries to both sides of the ball. His defense overwhelmed quarterback Sam Darnold in the clutch game against the Vikings on Sunday and held him to 18-of-41 passing for 166 yards and zero touchdowns.

Minnesota did not reach the end zone the entire game.

It was the type of performance that surely solidified Glenn as a head-coaching candidate in the eyes of many teams, and the Saints are already familiar with his work as they search for their next leader.