Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn looks on during their NFL preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field in Detroit, on Friday, August 13, 2021. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
ALLEN PARK -- Aaron Glenn had multiple offers on the table last offseason. He could have become a defensive coordinator in Chicago. He could have become a defensive coordinator in Jacksonville. He chose Detroit instead, because he believed in Dan Campbell.
A year later, Dan Campbell believes in Aaron Glenn so much that the thought of losing his defensive lieutenant sent his mind wandering into strange places.
“I thought he was going to be gone, and I was going to be happy as hell for him,” Campbell said. “But the thought of losing him, I just had this feeling of like I was going to be walking around without any pants on.”
Glenn has been showered in praise for the work he’s done in the past year in Detroit. He inherited a defense that plunged to some of the greatest depths ever seen on that side of the ball in the history of the league -- only the 1980 Baltimore Colts allowed more points than Detroit did in its final season under Matt Patricia -- and got some immediate results. The Lions still finished 28th against the run, 24th against the pass and 29th in overall defense, but there was demonstrable growth at every level of the unit, and by so many players.
Charles Harris, a first-round bust in Miami, racked up more sacks (7.5) than he had in four professional seasons before that. Tracy Walker, who regressed to a bench player under Patricia, had perhaps his best season too. Alim McNeill, a third-round pick, became a surprising starter. So did A.J. Parker, an undrafted rookie. Heck, Jerry Jacobs became one of the best UDFAs in the whole league before going down with a torn ACL.
The Lions suffered so many injuries, so much attrition, so much roster churn in the first year of their rebuild that they were outflanked all over the field down the stretch. Yet they continued to hold it together most weeks. Ask them why, and dollars to donuts, they’ll tell you it was Aaron Glenn.
“AG’s is kind of like that uncle that — you know how there’s that uncle that always watches your back when you’re young? And he’s always going to look out for you, but he’s going to tell your ass when you’re wrong? That’s AG,” safety Tracy Walker said. “AG is always going to tell you when you’re wrong, but he’s going to love you. Like I said, it’s a great feeling to know I have a coaching staff that backs me up, supports what I do, supports my decisions or suggestions, and yeah, I couldn’t ask for much better honestly. I couldn’t ask for much better.”
Now word is getting around. Glenn drew head-coaching interviews with the Broncos and Saints this offseason, a remarkable feat considering his defense finished 29th in the league, while his team finished with the second-worst record in the league. He didn’t land either gig, which isn’t a huge surprise given the resume. But if the Lions take a big step forward next season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him land a head job in 2023.
And make no mistake, improvement is expected this season. The Lions re-signed key free agents like Walker and Harris, plus spent six draft picks on that side of the ball, a team record in the seven-round era. That includes Aidan Hutchinson, the No. 2 overall pick who has already overwhelmed the second-team offense during the first round of OTAs this week.
Glenn also has set into motion a change in defensive philosophy, shifting to more four-man fronts and an attacking style of pass rush. He believes that better suits the personnel, after investing early-round picks in linemen like Hutchinson, McNeill, Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike the last two years.
“Take a look at Alim,” Glenn explained. “Man, I go back, and I always go back and watch college and see what they were doing. Alim was always in this zero-technique. Once he came here and I started seeing how athletic he was, watching Levi at the Senior Bowl and seeing him be able to penetrate, shoot gaps, attack his technique. Now, that’s a huge word that I want you guys to understand. That attack technique. I don’t want you guys to think that we’re just running up the field. That’s not who we are. That’s not what we’re going to do. But it is a more aggressive style of defense.
“I want to be able to take advantage of every player, their ability, as much as I can. I want to take advantage of that athleticism that Alim has. I want to showcase that, if that makes sense. I want to showcase what Levi showed at the Senior Bowl. I want to showcase what Aidan can do when I kick him inside. I want to showcase what (Jarrad Davis) can do. I’m looking at every player’s ability and how can I showcase this. I can’t be selfish in one of the ways that I’ve done it. I have to make sure I do what’s best for each player, to take advantage of who they are and what they can do. So that was the change.”
Makes sense, although easier said than done. It can be hard for a coach to forsake the familiar. Just ask Matt Patricia about that. He spent the better part of three years trying to jam a square peg into a round hole and wound up with one of the worst defenses to ever play this game.
But Glenn has a plan, and the players are excited by what’s to come.
“It just allows us to play free,” linebacker Derrick Barnes said. “It allows us to play downhill and not really think about it. ... I love this defense. It’s going to be really good.”
If the Lions take a big step forward this season, Glenn will inch toward the top of head-coaching wish lists across the league. In the meantime, Detroit will savor having one of the best-regarded teachers in the league in Allen Park.
“I really did (think he was gone),” Campbell said. “Look, I have a tremendous amount of trust and confidence in AG, I just do. He is more than worthy of being a head coach, he’s more than qualified of being a head coach in this league and I’m happy to have him and we’re lucky to have him. We’re fortunate to have him as our defensive coordinator. But yeah, I’m glad he’s back.”
And while his eyes are set on running a team of his own, Glenn is determined to make the most of his time under Campbell in Detroit as well.
“I think I have the best job in the world,” Glenn said. “I really do. Man, I think I’m working for an outstanding head coach. I’m working for an outstanding owner -- outstanding. Outstanding president. Really good people in the building to work with. My main deal right now, I want to be the best coordinator Detroit has ever had. I’m going to stand by that, and continue to say it, because I really believe that in my heart. If the head coaching deal happens, it happens. But for right now? I think I have an outstanding job. I really do.”
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