In some ways, Dan Campbell is pulling for Aaron Glenn. In other ways, not so much. Glenn is interviewing Wednesday with the Saints for their head coaching vacancy and Campbell knows the Lions defensive coordinator would be "a great fit" in New Orleans.
"That’s why I’m nervous," Campbell told reporters Tuesday at the Senior Bowl in Mobile. Ala.
Glenn spent the final season of his playing career with the Saints and later spent five years under Sean Payton as the team's defensive backs coach. He came with Campbell to Detroit last offseason, but could be returning to New Orleans as Payton's replacement.
"He would be a great fit," Campbell said. "And honestly, A.G. would be a great fit for just about anybody. That’s how much I think of him and know where he’s going. So I know that’s real, it’s out there. They have a good feel for A.G., A.G. has a great feel for that organization, the players and all it entails. So if you’re asking me, it’s a fit. Now, I hope it doesn’t go that way, but yeah."
While the final numbers weren't pretty for Detroit's defense last season, it improved down the stretch and generally outplayed its own talent. The Lions held five of their final nine opponents to 20 points or fewer despite losing several starters to injures and played hard for Glenn throughout the year.
Glenn, 49, also interviewed for the Broncos head coaching job last month, ultimately losing out to Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett, and interviewed for the Jets head coaching job last season, which eventually went to former 49ers DC Robert Saleh. He said Tuesday "I think I'm ready" to be a head coach.
"Whenever my time comes, it comes," Glenn told reporters in Mobile. "I think we all know that at some time in my career, that's what I want to do. But I said this before and I'll say it again: I want to be the best defensive coordinator the Detroit Lions ever had. Also, I look forward to that day I become a head coach. The interviews are coming around and I'm enjoying those things, they are fun."
The Saints have also interviewed former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson and former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, despite his current lawsuit against the NFL for discriminatory hiring practices, and plan to interview their current defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and their current special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi later this week.
Glenn said he had a good interview with the Broncos and GM George Paton that lasted "almost six and a half hours."
"To me, that spoke volumes," he said. "Apparently they liked what they were hearing. I just didn't win the job. The thing is, I look past that and go get ready for the next one. That's my only focus. The thing is, I have a really good job. If I don't get one of these jobs, you know what man, I'm going to still be there with you guys and we're going to turn this thing around in Detroit.
"We're going to continue to play hard, play fast, get some more talent in there and go play."
Unless, of course, he winds up in New Orleans.