By Adeniyi Precious 
Aaron Glenn’s coaching candidacy for a head coaching role isn’t likely to be hurt by the Lions’ early playoff exit. Despite their loss to Washington in the Divisional Round, Glenn is still being heavily considered for head coaching jobs, including with the New Orleans Saints, who recently fired their head coach Dennis Allen after a rough start to their season. The Saints have interviewed Glenn among others for the position.
The Lions’ playoff loss was a tough one, with the defense giving up 45 points and 481 total yards. Washington’s offense was on fire, converting on key plays and running all over Detroit. The loss reflected poorly on the Lions’ defense, but it’s important to consider the context—Glenn had to work with a decimated defense, with key players like Aidan Hutchinson and others sidelined due to injuries.
Despite those challenges, Glenn’s defense had a solid season overall, ranking high in several key areas like third-down defense and red zone performance. The Lions also forced plenty of turnovers and were strong against the run. Given the circumstances, Glenn’s coaching performance was still impressive, and he remains a strong candidate for a head coaching role. A single poor game shouldn’t overshadow his overall success, especially considering the injuries he had to work around.