Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson watches warmups before the game vs. the Miami Dolphins at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022.
As the NFL head coaching carousel starts to spin, the Indianapolis Colts want to talk to Lions’ coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn.
The NFL head coaching carousel is beginning to spin, as teams with openings ask to interview coordinators from other teams. The Houston Texans have requested an interview with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for their job opening, and later on Monday another AFC South team has done the same,
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Indianapolis Colts have requested to interview Johnson for their head coaching job. Schefter added the Colts have also asked to interview Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
Johnson gained quick traction as head coaching candidate over his first season as a coordinator, turning the Lions’ offense into one of the best in the league and reviving quarterback Jared Goff. Glenn interviewed with the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints last year, and in 2021 he interviewed with the New York Jets.
The Colts got a close up look at Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn last preseason
The Colts hosted the Lions for joint practices before a preseason game in August. So they got a close look at how Johnson and Glenn work.
Indianapolis fired head coach Frank Reich in November, and replaced him with former Colts All-Pro center Jeff Saturday as interim coach. They got a win in Saturday’s debut, then lost seven in a row to end the season and they finished with a 4-12-1 record overall.
Glenn’s stock as a head coaching candidate took a hit as the Lions’ defense struggled to start this season. But his unit played a lot better as during the team’s 8-2 run over the final 10 games, in particular against the run along with a spike in how good the pass rush was.
After news of the Colts wanting to interview Johnson, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reported the Carolina Panthers have thrown their hat in the ring too.