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Lions OC Ben Johnson, DC Aaron Glenn head coach interviews: Tracking latest updates
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- Lions OC Ben Johnson, DC Aaron Glenn head coach interviews: Tracking latest updates
It did not take long for the NFL's attempted poaching process to start.
The morning after the Detroit Lions soundly beat the Minnesota Vikings , reports started coming out that some teams without head coaches are requesting to interview offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn .
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Johnson has been in charge of the Lions offense for three seasons and helped the group turn into the best unit in the NFL on their way to a franchise-record 15-2 season . Glenn has been the defensive coordinator for all four seasons under head coach Dan Campbell and has overcome a number of injury obstacles this season to produce an opportunistic defense that has vastly improved from 2023 .
Here are live updates on Johnson and Glenn from reporters in the know as the NFL head coaching interview process kicks off this week.
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Jan. 13: Dallas Cowboys part ways with Mike McCarthy
There are six head coach openings again. On Monday, NFL Network reported that Dallas and McCarthy could not come to a contract extension with his current deal set to expire, making him free to sign with another team. The Lions' coordinators could generate interest for the Cowboys after they beat them 47-9 in AT&T Stadium early in the season.
Jan. 11: Raiders interview both Lions coordinators
Both Glenn and Johnson interviewed for the Las Vegas Raiders' vacant head-coaching job, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal . The interviews reportedly took place on Friday.
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While there is strong fan sentiment there for Johnson, that opening might have taken an unexpected turn Saturday with news that Deion Sanders reportedly interested in the job.
Jan. 10: Glenn talks to Saints , Johnson interviews with Patriots
Glenn completed his virtual interview with the New Orleans Saints on Friday and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson finished his virtual interview with the New England Patriots, the teams announced.
Glenn has interviewed with the New York Jets and has interviews still scheduled with the Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars . Johnson also is expected to meet with the Bears, Jaguars and Raiders.
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Jan. 8: Patriots request to interview Aaron Glenn
All six teams with a head coaching vacancy have requested to interview Glenn. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported the Patriots requested to interview Glenn . The Lions coordinators have three days off thanks to the bye to complete virtual interviews.
Jan. 8: Ben Johnson to virtually interview with 4 teams; Spielman gets GM interview
On Wednesday afternoon, the Athletic reported that Johnson will virtually interview with the Patriots, Bears and Jaguars. ESPN's Adam Schefter said Johnson's interview with New England will happen on Friday. Fox Sports also reported he will interview with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Columbus radio station 97.1 The Fan reported that Lions executive assistant to chairman Sheila Ford Hamp and president Rod Wood will interview for the Jets' open general manager position. Spielman, a former linebacker for the franchise in the 90s, assisted the Lions in the hiring of Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes in 2021.
Jan. 8: Raiders request to interview Johnson and Glenn
After firing Antonio Pierce on Tuesday, the Las Vegas Raiders became the sixth team with a head coaching vacancy. On Wedensday, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported Las Vegas put in requests to interview both of the Lions' coordinators.
Jan. 7: Jaguars, Patriots request interview with Johnson; Glenn has four interviews set up
NFL Network reported that the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars have both requested interviews with Johnson, pushing his list of teams up to three. NFL Network's Ian Rapaport also reported Glenn has virtual interviews with the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Chicago Bears and Jaguars between Thursday and Saturday.
Jan. 6: Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn interview requests begin
NFL Network reported Monday the Chicago Bears are requesting interviews with both Johnson and Glenn for their open head coaching position. The Athletic reported while the New York Jets are not expected to put in a formal request to interview Johnson, Glenn is someone "they are expected to have interest in". It was later reported the Jets requested to interview Glenn .
NFL head coach interview rules
Sunday night's outcome had a big impact on the timing of these interviews. Since the Lions won and clinched the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and a first-round bye , teams can request to virtually interview coaches on the staff starting three days after the game. Johnson and Glenn can begin interviews Wednesday. Vikings coordinators, such as defensive coordinator Brian Flores, cannot interview with a team until three days after the wild-card round ends.
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Teams can only conduct virtual interviews with prospective coaches until the day after the divisional round ends, Jan. 20, when in-person interviews can begin. Second interviews can begin Jan. 27, one day after conference championships (the week off before Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans on Feb. 9). These rules only apply to coaches on current playoff staffs.
TURN IT UP: Lions bring heat on defense to beat Vikings, clinch No. 1 seed: 'Tonight was a statement'
Past interest in Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn
Johnson has been a hot name in head coach talks for the past two years after helping construct one of the best offenses in the league, which finished with the fifth-most total points in an NFL season (564) after dropping 31 on Minnesota's top-ranked defense. He took over play-calling duties in 2022 and Detroit has ranked as a top-10 offense ever since and steadily climbed to the top.
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Last year, Johnson interviewed with the Washington Commanders , Seattle Seahawks , Atlanta Falcons , Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers . He was considered the favorite in Washington, but opted to pull his name out and return to Detroit. In December, he said he has the "fire" to see what he could potentially do.
"I think there's a burning desire in every man to find what he's made out of and push the limits and see if he's got what it takes," Johnson said Dec. 19. "And so yeah, there's a fire there. Now, when that time is? I don't know, when that'll be, but there's certainly a fire there."
Glenn, Lions defensive coordinator beginning in 2021, put together one of his best gameplans on Sunday to neutralize Sam Darnold and a Vikings passing game in a groove down the stretch. He has had to work with over a dozen players going on injured reserve throughout the season, including starters at all three levels, but has found ways to tweak the scheme and produce good enough results to complement the offense.
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn watches a play against Buffalo Bills during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024.
Glenn interviewed with the Commanders, Chargers, Falcons and Tennessee Titans in 2023. He has direct connections with two of the teams with openings this cycle, the Jets and New Orleans Saints. He spent the first eight seasons of his 15-year career as a player with the Jets and was the Saints' defensive coordinator from 2016-20.
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NFL head coach job openings for 2025
These are the six current teams with head coaching jobs available:
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Chicago Bears
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New Orleans Saints
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New York Jets
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Dallas Cowboys.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
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Las Vegas Raiders
After last season, eight teams hired a new coach. The Patriots made the first hire this year by signing Mike Vrabel.
Stay tuned for the best Lions coverage throughout the playoffs and all year long at freep.com/sports/lions .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn NFL head coach interviews: Rumors and updates
