The New England Patriots have added Aaron Glenn, the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, to their list of head coaching candidates, requesting an interview, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated on Wednesday. Glenn, 52, has held the role of Lions DC since 2021, with Detroit finishing 7th in scoring defense (20.1 points per game) and 20th in total defense (342.4 yards per game) this season. He becomes the fifth candidate to be interviewed by the Patriots as they look to replace Jerod Mayo, who was fired Sunday after a 4-13 season.

The Patriots have already interviewed former quarterback Byron Leftwich, who was Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022, and Pep Hamilton, who served as the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans in 2022 and the Indianapolis Colts from 2013 to 2015. They also have an in-person interview scheduled with former Tennessee Titans head coach and longtime Patriots player Mike Vrabel on Thursday. Vrabel, whose contract as a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns expired on Dec. 30, is now free to meet with other teams. Additionally, the Patriots are reportedly set for a virtual interview with Detroit’s offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, who has been with the Lions since 2019.

Following their 23-16 win over Buffalo in the season finale, which secured the No. 4 overall pick in April’s NFL draft, Patriots owner Robert Kraft is moving quickly to fill the head coaching vacancy. Kraft confirmed that the front office will remain unchanged and that the coaching search will be led by executives Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith.