The Lions won’t be losing their defensive coordinator, but defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant is wanted to interview for a defensive coordinator job.
With the news the New Orleans Saints will hire Dennis Allen as their new head coach, the Detroit Lions won’t be losing defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to a head coaching job this year. But they may still lose a coach to another team.
According to Tom Pelissero and Steve Wyche of NFL Media, the Minnesota Vikings have put in a request to interview Lions defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant for their defensive coordinator opening.
Pleasant was widely praised for his work with Detroit’s secondary this season, as the unit was thinned by injuries right from the start. Most notably, cornerback Amani Oruwariye had a breakout season, safety Tracy Walker had a rebound campaign and undrafted rookie cornerback Jerry Jacobs became an instant contributor before tearing an ACL in Week 14.
At the Senior Bowl last week, Pleasant served as defensive coordinator for the American team the Lions coaching staff was in charge of. Back in November, he made Pelissero’s list of young coaches to watch around the league.
The Lions may lose Aubrey Pleasant to a promotion already
Before coming to the Lions on Dan Campbell’s staff in 2021, Pleasant was cornerbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams for four seasons. In 2020, he was on the coaching staff with Rams’ offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell, though it won’t be locked in official until after the Super Bowl, is set to be the Vikings’ new head coach.
Pleasant is well on track to being a defensive coordinator, and likely eventually a head coach. If there’s a coordinator opening he’d take this year, as that list of opportunities narrows with head coaches being hired and assembling staffs, Minnesota to reunite with O’Connell looks like the one.
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