One of the NFL’s most coveted head coach candidates met with the New York Jets today, but he has no interest in speaking with the New England Patriots.
The Jets met with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn in a virtual interview on Thursday. New England also requested to interview the former Pro Bowl cornerback, but Glenn declined the request, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Pelissero adds that Glenn is scheduled to interview for every team with a head coach vacancy except for New England.
Earlier today, New England completed its interview with Mike Vrabel, who has deep ties to the Patriots. Vrabel played linebacker in New England for eight seasons and is a member of their Ring of Honor. Some reports claim that Vrabel interviewed early with the Jets as a method of pushing the Patriots to fire former head coach Jerod Mayo and give him the job.
The news of Glenn denying an interview with the Patriots (despite interviewing for every other opening) will fuel speculation that Vrabel-to-New England is a done deal. Time will tell; in the meantime, Vrabel has received interest from the Patriots, Jets, Bears, and Saints.
Glenn, 52, is in his fourth season as Detroit’s defensive coordinator. In 2024, Glenn led the Lions to fifth-best in defensive DVOA despite battling an onslaught of injuries.
A highly respected coach in NFL circles, Glenn began receiving head coach interest back in 2021, when he was still the Saints’ defensive backs coach and had never called a play as a coordinator. Four years later, he will likely finally get his first shot at a head coaching job. We don’t know where that will be just yet, but we do know it will not be in New England.
