Could Detroit Lions Aaron Glenn Be a Candidate to Coach Las Vegas Raiders

With Detroit having a 6-2 record and being featured in numerous primetime games, the league is taking notice of the success the Lions have been having the past 14 months. After his work turning around Detroit’s defense, Aaron Glenn will likely again find himself interviewing for open head coaching positions. In his latest NFL mailbag, the MMQB’s Albert Breer tackled the question of who are the early candidates Raiders owner Mark Davis could consider hiring, after Josh McDaniels was let go. The first candidate Breer discusses is Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh.

According to Breer, “The Michigan coach cut his coaching teeth in 2002 and ’03 in Oakland on Bill Callahan’s staff, and Davis made a hard run at him in ’15 before Harbaugh turned down the job to return to his alma mater. Davis seriously considered it again in ’22, even interviewing Colts exec Ed Dodds (who worked with Harbaugh in Oakland, and is thought to be held in very high regard by the coach) as a potential GM pairing for Harbaugh before getting down the road with McDaniels and Dave Ziegler for the open positions.” Breer also examines top defensive coordinators across the NFL, as teams often pivot and hire coaches that specialize in the opposite side of the football than the previous head coach.

“If not Harbaugh, Davis could consider Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo or even Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Again, all four guys would fit that battleship-commander bill,” writes Breer. “Then, there’s the idea of trying to lure Patriots coach Bill Belichick, with so much of his infrastructure left over in place from the McDaniels era (Belichick, for what it’s worth, revered Mark Davis’s dad)—if Davis is willing to dip into that well again.” Part of the reason Glenn will be a prime head coaching candidate is his ability to relate to players and his experience playing in the NFL.

Players develop respect quickly for coaches and front office personnel that have playing experience, as the ability to relate to players is among the top requirements for coaches being considered. While Glenn will surely be interviewed, the Raiders may not be the most ideal landing spot for coaches seeking their first job, as Davis has proven to lack patience with head coaches.

McDaniels, who has had success as an offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, did not last two full seasons in Las Vegas, as he was dismissed midway through his second season. It is widely believed McDaniels lost the locker room after the teams slow start to the season. Linebackers coach Antonio Pierce currently serves as the Raiders interim head coach.