Falcons interview Lions DC Aaron Glenn for HC job

The Atlanta Falcons interviewed Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn for their head-coaching vacancy on Friday.

The interview took place virtually with Lions scheduled to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC divisional round playoff game on Sunday.

The Detroit defense ranked 23rd in scoring defense at 23.2 points per game in the regular season and 19th in total defense at 336.1 yards per game. But the Lions racked up seven sacks and held Atlanta out of the end zone in a 20-6 victory in Week 3.

Glenn, 51, is in his third season as Detroit's defensive coordinator.

Glenn was a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback during a 15-year NFL playing career from 1994-2008. He intercepted 41 passes, returning six for touchdowns, while playing for the New York Jets (1994-2001), Houston Texans (2002-04), Dallas Cowboys (2005-06), Jacksonville Jaguars (2007) and New Orleans Saints (2008).

Atlanta has interviewed nine candidates for the post, including former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and current Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. The Falcons have scheduled a second interview with Belichick for Saturday.

The others to interview with Atlanta are Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver.

The Falcons fired Arthur Smith after Atlanta finished the 2023 season with the same record — 7-10 — for the third consecutive season under Smith.

—Field Level Media