Reason Coaching Candidate Denied Patriots Not Difficult To Decipher

Aaron Glenn, like so many others around the league, saw the Patriots try to skate the Rooney Rule with their initial interviews.

The sought-after Detroit Lions defensive coordinator, who the Patriots requested to interview only after they were criticized for their first stage of the process, thus opted to skate himself.

Glenn denied New England’s interview request one day after receiving it, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. He reportedly will interview with each of the other five teams who have head coaching vacancies.

more nfl

NFL Rumors: Sought-After Coach Denies Patriots Interview Request

by Sean T. McGuire 1 Min Read

Patriots Include Odd Detail In Mike Vrabel Interview Announcement

by Keagan Stiefel 1 Min Read

Patriots Rumors: How NFL Views Aaron Glenn Interview Request

by Jason Ounpraseuth 2 Min Read

The Patriots on Tuesday fulfilled the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least two minority candidates, when they interviewed Byron Leftwich and Pep Hamilton. Both offensive-minded coaches have been out of the league in recent years and are not viewed as serious head coaching candidates.

It prompted media members, fans and those around the league to view New England’s process as a “sham.”

Even those within the Patriots organization reportedly felt that way.

“Multiple team sources disapproved of ownership’s clear flouting of the Rooney Rule, disrespecting the process and declining to gather intel from external coaching candidates about how their organizations operate and their visions for how the Patriots could run,” the Boston Herald wrote in an extensive report published Thursday.

New England, a franchise holding a coaching search for the first time since the Rooney Rule was adopted, failed to accomplish the premise of the rule. The Patriots proceeded that way so they could hire their desired coach as soon as possible.

Many believe front-runner Mike Vrabel, who interviewed Thursday, could land the job within the week.

Perhaps Glenn heard that, too. The respected defensive mind wasn’t about to waste his time interviewing for a job he was never going to get, with an organization that probably didn’t intend to interview him in the first place.