Lions assistants in demand for HC jobs, 'very much invested in this team' while interviews wait

The Detroit Lions will have two of the most in-demand candidates for head coaching jobs this hiring cycle, and Dan Campbell believes both are ready for promotions.

But until the Lions' playoff run ends, there's a fine line Campbell wants coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to walk between their current and potentially future jobs.

"They know this, it’s all about us right now, and it’s about the team, and they’re very much invested in this team," Campbell said Monday. "Their opportunities will come. You can’t do anything this week. So, it’s just that. Stay focused on what it is right now, and that time will come if you interview with these organizations."

The Washington Commanders officially requested permission to interview both Johnson and Glenn for their vacant head coaching job after firing Ron Rivera on Monday, and more interest is expected to arise in the Lions coordinators in the coming days.

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Currently, there are five head coach vacancies in the NFL — the Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers — and another one or two jobs could open this week.

Johnson interviewed for three jobs last season and was the favorite to get the Panthers job when he pulled his name from consideration.

Glenn has interviewed with the Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals in the past two seasons.

Johnson, whose run the Lions offense the past two seasons, is considered one of the most innovative young offensive minds in the NFL and is a favorite to get a job this cycle. Glenn, in his third season as Lions defensive coordinator, earns high marks for leadership and topped a recent NFL Players Association survey of the game's top defensive coordinators.

Asked last month how he navigates talk about future jobs in-season, Glenn said, "The most important thing you have to do when you become a winner is you focus at the job at hand and what’s in front of you, and everything else is going to take care of itself."

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"I believe in, you do the things you have to do, the byproducts will be there for you," Glenn said. "And if that’s becoming a head coach, man, listen, I’m grateful and I’m with it. But I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, man, I’m enjoying my time being the coordinator here in Detroit. And I want to see this thing through, I want to see what we can do."

The Lions open the postseason Sunday when they host the Los Angeles Rams in their first home playoff game in 30 years.

NFL rules prohibit teams from holding virtual interviews with candidates whose teams are playing in the opening round of the playoffs until Jan. 15. In-person interviews of candidates currently employed by NFL teams begin Jan. 22.

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Campbell said he hopes both Johnson and Glenn land head coaching jobs, though he doesn't want to have to replace either.

"Of course, I want that for them, but it’s about us right now and, look, both of those guys are worthy — more than worthy, to be head coach candidates," Campbell said. "I don’t care where you’re at. They are two of the best that you’re going to find, I believe that. But until then, they’re with us. And I don’t want to lose either one of them, but that’s the way it goes.”

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions know they have '2 of the best' head coach candidates