Not only is Aaron Glenn back with the Lions, but possibly back for a while.
Detroit is signing its defensive coordinator to a multi-year contract extension, with a formal agreement expected to come soon, according to ESPN. Glenn has been a popular head coaching candidate the past two offseasons, drawing multiple interviews this year with both the Cardinals and Colts.
Glenn, who also interviewed for the top job with the Saints and Broncos last year and with the Jets the year before that, has earned the reputation as a problem-solver in Detroit. While the Lions' defense allowed the most yards in the NFL last season, it rallied down the stretch as Glenn coaxed major production out of several young players. The Lions wound up setting an NFL record for sacks by a rookie class.
Detroit went from allowing an average of 32.1 points over its first seven games, over which time the team went 1-6, to 20.2 points over its final 10, over which time the team went 8-2 and nearly crashed the playoffs in the NFC.
A former Pro Bowl corner who played 15 years in the NFL, Glenn is cut from the same mold as Dan Campbell and came with him to Detroit from New Orleans. When Glenn was close to landing the Saints head coaching job last offseason, Campbell said "the thought of losing him" was like "walking around without any pants on."
Glenn, 50, has brought an attitude to the Lions that's helped Campbell set a new standard for a losing franchise. He's a fierce competitor who expects to win. His players here have done nothing but rave about his leadership. It's not hard to see why he's considered a future head head coach.
"He is more than worthy of being a head coach," Campbell said last year, "more than qualified to be a head coach in this league."
He'll likely get his shot eventually, perhaps in the near future. But for now, Glenn is committed to Detroit.
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