Nic Antaya/Getty ImagesThe New Orleans Saints are reportedlyscheduled to interview Detroit Lions defensive coordinator AaronGlenn about their head coaching vacancy.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Saturdaythe interview is set to happen at next week's Senior Bowl as theSaints begin to ramp up their efforts to find a replacement for SeanPayton, who stepped down Tuesday.
Glenn, a former NFL cornerback, playedfor the Saints in 2008. He returned to New Orleans as a defensivebacks coach from 2016 through 2020.
The 49-year-old Texas native was astandout corner selected by the New York Jets in the first round ofthe 1994 draft after being voted an All-American his final season atTexas A&M.
Glenn earned three Pro Bowl selections,two with the Jets and one with the Houston Texans, during a 15-yearplaying career that ended after his season with the Saints. He's filled several roles since hanging up his cleats.
He spent a short time as a generalmanager for the Houston Stallions, an indoor team in the Lone StarFootball League, before returning to the NFL as a scout for the NewYork Jets in 2012.
Glenn shifted to coaching in 2014 as amember of the Cleveland Browns staff. That was followed by his stintas the Saints DBs coach before he took a coordinator job for thefirst time in Detroit.
The Lions finished 29th in totaldefense in 2021. While they still ranked near the bottom of theleague, they gave up 40 fewer yards per game (379.8 compared to 419.8)than in 2020, when they rated last in the NFL in that category.
After Detroit's season ended, he leftthe door open to exploring head coaching opportunities but said hisfocus remained on his current role.
"If it happens, those things happen,man," Glenn told reporters. "But listen, this is a job that Ihave right now, and I want to be the best I can be at it. And I wantto be the best that ever came through Detroit. I want you guys to saythat at some point, that he was the best coordinator ever. That'swhat my goal is."
Other candidates identified bythe Saints include their own defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen,former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores and Tampa BayBuccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.
New Orleans is getting a later start tothe search than other teams in the market for a new head coach, butwith only three hires confirmed so far, there are still plenty ofoptions as five other organizations look to fill the voidas well.
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