The Lions have officially questioned James Houston and Sam LaPorta, with one ruled out.
Aaron Glenn has completed an online interview for the head coaching position with the Falcons, the organization announced on Friday, January 19.
Glenn, who earned three Pro Bowl appearances during his 15-year career on five different teams, was also an outstanding athlete.
Since 2021, Glenn has served as the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. The Lions’ run defense ranked among the best in the NFL and played a key role in Detroit’s advancement to the divisional playoff round of the NFC.
Before joining Detroit, Glenn served as an assistant and primary defensive backs coach in Cleveland and New Orleans, respectively.
Personnel from other clubs must conduct online interviews before the end of the Divisional Playoff games on Sunday, January 21, by NFL protocols.
Prior to the end of Wild Card games, virtual interviews were required if the employer team had a Wild Card bye.
Employer clubs must commence virtual interviews three days after their Wild Card match and complete them before the end of Divisional Playoff contests.
Beginning on Monday, January 22, clubs may conduct in-person or virtual interviews with candidates currently employed by NFL clubs whose seasons have concluded.
However, conducting preliminary interviews with candidates employed by clubs hosting the Conference Championship Games is not permitted until the employer’s season concludes.
Four teams have conducted interviews with Glenn, 51, who has emerged as a prominent coaching candidate within this cycle. The Falcons are one of them.
Despite the Lions’ subpar statistical performance this season, Glenn’s players appear to adore him, as a recent NFLPA survey ranked him as the league’s top defensive assistant.
Although erstwhile New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick appeared to be the Falcons’ top choice, Glenn was a popular backup option if that plan fell through.
The New York Jets initially selected him in the initial round of the 1994 draft. Glenn’s assistance in the turnaround of Lion’s defense for the past three seasons has earned him a reputation as one of the most intelligent coordinators in the NFL.
On Friday, the Falcons made public the conclusion of an online conversation with Lions defenseman Glenn, who has presided over the organization for the previous three seasons.
Before beginning his educational career, Glenn spent fifteen seasons working as an NFL defensive back.
Despite selecting Glenn as the ninth candidate to be interviewed, all attention was focused on Belichick due to rumors that he had traveled to Atlanta for a second interview aboard one of team owner Arthur Blank’s private jets, indicating that he had been the team’s top choice.
The Falcons acknowledged their intention to continue discussing with Belichick but stated that no further information would be released until concluding the additional interview with him.
It would be an extraordinary development if Belichick joined the Falcons, an organization that has failed to finish a season with a victory since 2017 and has no Super Bowl championship to its credit.
After the 2016 season, Belichick presided over the New England Patriots as they overcame the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history by surmounting a 28-3 deficit in the second half to defeat the Falcons 34-28 in overtime.
Atlanta has not finished a season with a winning record or qualified for the playoffs since 2017. Just hours after the season’s final game, the team terminated him following a dreadful loss at New Orleans that capped Arthur Smith’s third consecutive 7-10 campaign.
The Falcons announced on Friday that they have concluded an online interview with Lions defense coordinator Aaron Glenn over the head coaching vacancy.
Glenn and Terry Fontenot, the general manager of the Falcons, collaborated with the Saints. Glenn earned two Pro Bowls during his 15-year career via five different teams as a player.
The Lions appointed Glenn as their defensive coordinator in 2021. Before this, he held the position of defensive backs coach at New Orleans and Cleveland, where he served as an assistant coach.