Unique: Reggie Bush Endorses Aaron Glenn As Subsequent Head Coach Of Saints

New Orleans Saints nice Reggie Bush believes Aaron Glenn is the favourite to be the staff’s new coach.

The franchise is searching for a brand new chief after firing Dennis Allen halfway via the 2024 season. 

The Saints have struggled to seek out stability following Drew Brees’ retirement after the 2020 season and Sean Payton’s departure after the 2021 season. 

In truth, New Orleans has did not make it to the playoffs in every of the previous 4 seasons after profitable at the least 11 video games in yearly between 2017 and 2020.

Nonetheless, the Saints could also be taking a look at their new coach in Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who truly has a historical past in New Orleans as their defensive backs coach (2016-2020).

 ”I believe so,” says Bush in a one-on-one interview on behalf of his partnership with Tostitos if Glenn is taken into account the favourite to be the Saints’ head coach. “You’re seeing how a lot he’s modified this protection this yr. Even with the accidents that they’ve had, they’re nonetheless enjoying at a excessive degree. I believe it’s the final word testomony for a coach, whether or not you’re a great coach or not.”

The Lions’ protection has remained one of many prime models within the league regardless of being decimated by accidents. Detroit misplaced Professional Bowl go rusher Aidan Hutchinson in Week 6 to a season-ending harm and misplaced beginning cornerback Carlton Davis in Week 15.  Detroit ranks seventh within the NFL in factors allowed per recreation and turned in arguably their greatest efficiency of the season once they allowed 9 factors to a Minnesota Vikings squad that had received 9 straight video games.

Bush additionally factors in direction of how Glenn was a star cornerback within the NFL, which is able to assist him earn the respect of the gamers within the locker room. The 52-year-old Glenn was a three-time Professional Bowl defensive again throughout his 15-year enjoying profession and performed his remaining season with the Saints throughout the 2008 marketing campaign, the place he was truly teammates with Bush. 

“You discover the actual teaching begins once you lose good gamers, they usually misplaced considered one of their greatest gamers on the defensive finish in Aidan Hutchinson,” says Bush. “I believe he confirmed that he’s succesful and in addition he’s a man that can command respect within the locker room as effectively. These guys will know that he’s not solely a coach, however he’s a man who performed too.”

Bush Says Saints’ Tremendous Bowl Crew Wasn’t All About Offense

Bush, who received a Tremendous Bowl with the Saints throughout the 2009 season, factors in direction of their aggressive model of protection as a motive for why they have been capable of hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Whereas many Saints followers keep in mind Payton, Brees and Bush, the defensive unit pressured a number of turnovers, rating second within the class whereas additionally rating third in interceptions. 

“We had a very good protection,” says Bush of the 2009 Saints. “I don’t know what number of turnovers, however our protection was scoring touchdowns like each week. I believe what A.G. brings to the desk is strictly what New Orleans wants. We obtained to get our protection again to this, that attacking model of play and we now have a great offensive weapons.”

The previous veteran operating again and Heisman Trophy winner believes Glenn’s teaching model mirrors the Saints’ model of enjoying throughout that 2009 Tremendous Bowl season. He additionally says that “good” defensive play is the “DNA” of any Tremendous Bowl staff.

“ I imagine A.G.’s model of protection and simply that attacking model, that’s what we had after I was in New Orleans,” says Bush who performed for the Saints from 2006 till 2010. “That’s what helped us to win the Tremendous Bowl. We have been all the time a great offensive staff after I obtained there, however as soon as our protection picked up, that’s after we grew to become a Tremendous Bowl champion staff. I’ve been part of a few completely different championship groups. And that’s all the time been the DNA of championship groups.”

Subsequent Coach Should Embrace New Orleans Tradition

The Saints have been clearly spoiled by the tenure of Payton, who now coaches the Denver Broncos. Payton introduced a profitable tradition that had by no means been seen earlier than in New Orleans, leading to 9 playoff appearances, seven division titles and 9 double-digit win seasons throughout his tenure there.

Previous to Payton’s arrival, the Saints had simply 5 playoff appearances and one playoff win throughout their first 39 seasons of existence.

Bush stresses the significance of the subsequent head coach understanding the tradition of New Orleans, one thing that Glenn could be aware of contemplating his historical past of enjoying and training within the metropolis.

“ I believe they’re undoubtedly going to want to seek out somebody who won’t solely be a terrific coach, however any individual who will have the ability to take within the tradition of New Orleans as a result of I believe that’s necessary,” says Bush. “If you go to New Orleans, once you coach in New Orleans, it’s good to perceive the tradition down there. It’s not nearly teaching the soccer staff, however individuals eat, sleep and breathe the Saints in New Orleans.”

“It’s a football-first metropolis,” Bush continues to say. “They want any individual who’s going to have the ability to lead not solely the staff, however the metropolis as effectively in the way in which that Sean Payton did.”

Bush performed his first 5 seasons beneath the management of Payton. He earned a First-Crew All-Professional honor throughout the 2008 season as a returner and began 42 of his 60 video games in New Orleans. The previous versatile menace explains that the subsequent head coach ought to mirror what Payton did to assist lead the Saints again right into a profitable period.

“I believed Sean did a terrific job at that, setting the bar excessive,” says Bush. “I additionally imagine that it’s somebody that may are available right here and do precisely what he did — proper teaching, proper quarterback, proper system — it could possibly occur. It may work in New Orleans and we’ve confirmed that.”