4:24pm: The Glenn request is official, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. That comes as no surprise, but the Saints could have competition from at least two other teams depending on how Glenn interviews with Chicago and New York. More suitors could also emerge in the wake of his strong 2024 showing.
2:55pm: Familiarity looks to be important for the Saints. At least, their HC search initially points in that direction. Two former New Orleans staffers are on the list to replace Dennis Allen.
Ex-Allen lieutenant Aaron Glenn is expected to receive an interview request from the Saints, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Glenn has served as the Lions’ DC for four seasons. Also on staff alongside Allen under Sean Payton, Joe Brady is on the Saints’ radar. New Orleans officially submitted a request to the Buffalo OC, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports.
The Glenn request — rumored to be in the works for a bit now — marks his second from the NFC South club over the past three years. Glenn, 52, worked as Saints DBs coach under Payton from 2016-20. Coaching the likes of Marshon Lattimore and Marcus Williams, Glenn helped the Saints’ defense — under Allen’s leadership — complete a dramatic turnaround after the unit had bottomed out in the mid-2010s. Glenn has since elevated the Lions into a top-10 defense.
It might not be automatic the Saints lure Glenn back, as the veteran coordinator is being tied to just about every available job. The Jets and Bears have submitted a request. As part of a No. 1-seeded team, Glenn can also meet virtually with HC-needy clubs this week. Candidates tied to other playoff teams must wait until after their wild-card contests to begin virtual meetings.
Brady, 35, did not hold a high-ranking post during his time in New Orleans. He served as a Saints offensive assistant from 2017-18. Brady has since been on the rise, a climb that began when he served as pass-game coordinator for LSU’s unbeaten 2019 national champion team. After being fired from his post as Panthers OC, Brady has rebounded in Buffalo. Josh Allen has submitted his best all-around season, remaining the MVP favorite after piloting the Bills to a third straight AFC No. 2 seed. The Bills rank second in scoring, having beaten both the Lions and Chiefs this season. Unlike Glenn, Brady was not part of the Saints’ 2022 search to replace Payton.
Despite Allen’s struggles, the Saints have been connected to a hire familiar with the organization. They have not relieved longtime GM Mickey Loomis of his duties, as the veteran enters Year 24 in that post. Loomis is the second-longest-tenured pure GM in NFL history — behind only Cowboys Hall of Famer Tex Schramm. It will be interesting to see how many coaches with backgrounds exclusively outside the organization receive extensive looks, but Brady and Glenn look like two strong candidates based on their resumes.
Ugh, I was afraid this was coming.
To the 31 other teams, Joe Brady stinks! You don’t want him! Let him stay in Buffalo.
Signed,
Bills fans everywhere
Joe Brady just doesn’t seem ready for a HC position just yet
Maybe not, but at least New Orleans is looking into offensive coaches. I don’t think that you necessarily have to switch up specialties in hiring successive coaches, but the Saints’ specific situation tells me that an offensive coach would probably be better to rebuild the team. I actually like defensive coaches, but the offensive need seems more urgent to me. Allen’s defense has been falling off the last few years, but the offense is floundering.
The Saints will need to pick a young starter soon, or develop Rattler into a starter. Neither of those would probably happen with a defensive coach. Glenn seems like a viable candidate, but he’ll have to rebuild the defense anyway, which makes me wonder what they would do with the anemic offense in the meantime, which seems like a more immediate need.
All of this is my opinion, and I’m far from being 100% correct, but these are probably the type of coaches the Saints are going to have to look at. Or, even stay the course and rebuild with Rizzi, and look to bump up to next-level coaching talent in 3 years or so, after re-setting their cap situation. I’ve been following the Saints since 1972, and they won’t pay top dollar, but Ms. Benson will be patient and generally stay out of the way and let the football people handle the football decisions. The next HC of the Saints is going to benefit from a last place schedule but had better be someone who can 1) walk the team thru a rebuild 2) understand that Loomis/front office has used some kind of voodoo economics in assembly of the roster and 3) be able to put together a staff that can develop players and make in-game adjustments and 4) be patient. I know there are only 32 NFL HC jobs, but this team is old, salary cap hamstrung, and the young players they do have haven’t been developed well enough to be give them proper depth. It’s not going to be a pretty situation.