5 best HC candidates Saints should target after missing out on Aaron Glenn feat. Pete Carroll

The Saints need a new coach but they are not getting Aaron Glenn. The former Lions defensive coordinator became the New York Jet's head coach and New Orleans now needs to search elsewhere.

They will have some trouble attracting the up-and-coming coordinators. Instead, they might have to choose someone with a proven track record but who might not be fashionable right now. In other words, someone looking for a head coaching stint in the NFL but being passed over by other teams is their best bet right now.

The reasons for that are not complicated. The Saints have the worst salary cap situation going into 2025. So, they will not be able to bring the best players in like some other teams can. Also, they arguably have the worst quarterback situation in the NFC South, with Derek Carr looking some way behind Baker Mayfield, Michael Penix Jr., and Bryce Young in 2024.

Therefore, this will be a team that will need to be helmed by someone who is canny and can make the best of a bad situation. Here are some names who fit that mold.

Saints HC prospects not named Aaron Glenn

#5 - Ron Rivera

Ron Rivera has interviewed with a few teams but his stock has fallen in recent times, especially after how well Dan Quinn has done since coming in as the Commanders' head coach. However, he remains a top-notch defensive coach, with a record of success with the Panthers in the NFC South.

Bringing him up might stiffen up the Saints' spine and make them immediately competitive even if the offense plays more conservatively. His knowledge of the division plus his stature in the league could work wonders.

#4 - Steve Spagnuolo

Talking about stature, Steve Spagnuolo should be under consideration by the Saints. While Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce get most of the plaudits, their last Super Bowl and their current run have been built on top of one of the best defenses. Aaron Glenn might be in vogue but the Lions, in contrast, were the worst defense in the playoffs.

'Spag' is still one of the best defensive coordinators in the league and has previous experience working in New Orleans in that position. He also has previous head coaching experience, and that could come in handy for what is expected to be a high-pressure job. He will also have Andy Reid's blessing should he wish to depart.

#3 - Vic Fangio

Vic Fangio is another person whose stock is high these days. He has reshaped the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive unit into arguably the best in the league after they finished last season looking like they could not tackle. That side of the ball has been a big part of their run to the NFC Championship game this season, something Aaron Glenn could not achieve in Detroit.

His first ever NFL experience came as a linebackers coach with the Saints and it was the longest he ever occupied the same position in this league. He knows New Orleans' culture and fanbase. Much like Steve Spagnuolo, he also has previous head-coaching experience with the Denver Broncos.

#2 - Mike McCarthy

While the Saints considered Aaron Glenn, there is no reason to insist that they keep looking at a defensive-minded coach. Mike McCarthy is out of a job and the knock against him is that he has won only one Super Bowl. But a championship is still a championship and his record with the Dallas Cowboys might more be a function of the franchise for the last three decades than anything that he did wrong.

He knows how to build an offense and make teams competitive. He had the Cowboys make three straight postseasons and also won the division twice. New Orleans would, one assumes, have no hesitation in settling for a record like that.

#1 - Pete Carroll

While last offseason's head coaching cycle was dominated by Bill Belichick's firing by the New England Patriots, no less shocking was the Seattle Seahawks' decision to let Pete Carroll go. He is the only coach in their history to have led the franchise to a Super Bowl victory and he could have very nearly had two.

He did well with a dicey quarterback situation, successfully reviving Geno Smith's career after moving on from Russell Wilson. The latter has also not looked great since leaving the West Coast. This might be a good indication that he can work to get the best out of Derek Carr, despite being a defensive coach.

His soundness on the other side of the ball could ensure that the Saints become a harder team to beat. He has the most experience and success as a head coach of all the defensive-minded candidates on this list. He could just be the medicine New Orleans needs that would help them move on from missing out on Aaron Glenn.