The Patriots have requested to speak to a fifth head coaching candidate.

The team put in a request to interview Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, sources told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The Patriots have already interviewed ex-Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and former Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, both of whom are out of the NFL, in person.

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By speaking to Leftwich and Hamilton, both minority candidates, in person, the Patriots have already satisfied the Rooney Rule and can make a hire at any time. Glenn is another minority candidate but would not be permitted to meet with the Patriots in person until the Lions’ season is over. Since the Lions have a first-round bye, he can speak to the Patriots virtually this week.

Speaking of the Lions, the Patriots have scheduled their virtual interview with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for Friday, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

They’ll meet with Mike Vrabel, a Patriots Hall of Famer and former Titans head coach, in person on Thursday. Vrabel spent the 2024 season as an assistant with the Browns but his contract expired Dec. 30, so he can meet with teams at any point. Coaches on non-playoff teams cannot meet with teams in person until Jan. 20.

Glenn, 52, had an impressive Pro Bowl NFL career as a cornerback with the Jets, Texans, Cowboys, Jaguars and Saints. He spent two years in scouting before joining the coaching ranks in 2014 with the Browns as an assistant defensive backs coach. He became the Saints’ defensive backs coach in 2016 before being hired away by the Lions in 2021.

Glenn has been requested to interview with all six teams hiring new head coaches: the Patriots, Bears, Jaguars, Jets, Raiders and Saints.

The Lions’ defense has improved every year under Glenn, going from 31st, to 28, 23 and 7th in 2024 in points allowed. They’ve gone from 29th to 32nd, 19th and 20th in 2024 in yards allowed.

The 15-2 Lions earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs as one of the league’s best overall teams. It’s no surprise that Glenn and Johnson are so heavily coveted and why the Patriots would want to speak to both coaches.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said top front-office execs Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith would be part of the hiring process. He also said he expected it to be a quick process.

“Look, we move fast,” Kraft said Wednesday.

Vrabel is expected to be the Patriots’ top candidate. Given the scheduling of Johnson’s interview, it seems Vrabel will not be hired as quickly as Thursday, barring a change of schedule with the Patriots.

Kraft would not confirm Monday that Vrabel was the leader in the clubhouse for the job.

“Before I make a comment like that, I don’t know all the people involved, and there are some wonderful people that we’ve heard about,” Kraft said. “So, I’d rather respond to that after I’ve seen everyone.”

The Patriots are expected to see at least five candidates before they make their choice.

They were criticized by not following the intent of the Rooney Rule by speaking to Leftwich and Hamilton, since both coaches are out of the NFL and have never served as more than coordinators. The interview with Glenn will help put some of that critique to rest, but if they still go ahead and hire Vrabel quickly, it still means that they didn’t wait for a top minority candidate to be available to speak in person.