NFL Insider: 'Pretty Good Chance' Lions Lose Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn amid HC Rumors
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured Columnist IVJanuary 7, 2025
The Detroit Lions are the No. 1 seed in the NFC and two wins away from reaching the Super Bowl, but their coaching staff could look quite different in 2025.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport appeared on Tuesday's episode of the Dan Patrick Show (4:40 mark) and said there is a "pretty good chance" the NFC North team loses offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to teams with head-coaching vacancies this offseason.
He pointed out Johnson has "been in command for a couple years" and highlighted the "culture" and "leadership" Glenn has developed with the defense.
"To me, he's the guy who is most of an extension of Dan Campbell on the staff," Rapoport said of Glenn. "I think he's got a really good chance to get one of these jobs as well."
The Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints are all looking for new head coaches as of Tuesday, meaning there are a number of different landing spots for both coordinators.
Johnson is surely intriguing to teams with young quarterbacks such as the Bears, Patriots and Jaguars given his offensive background and innovative approach to play-calling, while Glenn has likely turned plenty of heads this season while leading a Lions defense that has dealt with a number of injuries.
Glenn was at his best Sunday as the Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 and clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Quarterback Sam Darnold has been largely excellent this season but went just 18-of-41 for 166 yards in the loss as the Vikings failed to score anything but field goals.
That type of pressure-packed performance from the defense only improved Glenn's chances at landing a head-coaching job.
As for the Lions, Campbell will surely still be the head coach in 2025 as he looks to continue the incredible turnaround of the franchise in what will be his fifth season. He just might have to do so without his two top assistants that have helped build the success in Detroit.