Category: Former Saints

Broncos interviewed former Saints coach Kris Richard for DC opening

It isn’t much of a surprise, but the Broncos have interviewed former Saints coach Kris Richard for their defensive coordinator opening:

It isn’t much of a surprise given all of the obvious connections here, but the  Denver Broncos have interviewed former New Orleans Saints coach Kris Richard for their defensive coordinator opening, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Rapoport adds that Richard is seen as more of a runner-up to ESPN analyst Rex Ryan, who is viewed as the favorite for this role on Sean Payton’s new coaching staff.

Richard was hired by Payton as the Saints defensive backs coach in 2021, and he was promoted to co-defensive coordinator status in 2022 while sharing that title with Ryan Nielsen. But they both left Dennis Allen’s staff in 2023 when Nielsen was hired away by the Atlanta Falcons, with Allen choosing to install Joe Woods as defensive coordinator.

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Sean Payton could be looking to hire Rob Ryan’s brother Rex as Broncos DC

Sean Payton could be looking to hire Rob Ryan’s brother Rex as Broncos defensive coordinator. The ESPN analyst is reportedly a ‘top candidate’ in Denver:

Sean Payton must have enjoyed working with Rob Ryan so much that he’s looking to team up with Rex Ryan. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the more-illustrious Ryan is a “top candidate” for the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator opening. The better-haired Ryan worked with Payton as New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator from 2013 to 2015, and the experience didn’t exactly go swimmingly.

Rex Ryan, meanwhile, has worked as an ESPN analyst after being dismissed by the Buffalo Bills back in 2016; before that, he was known as the charismatic head coach of the New York Jets, a position he earned by thriving as a defensive coordinator. He hasn’t worked in that capacity since 2008, but the Broncos defense is rich with talent and he could enjoy rare autonomy on that side of the ball with Payton focusing his efforts on getting Denver’s offense off the ground.

What has this got to do with the Saints? Beyond the obvious Payton-and-Ryan connection, a couple of former New Orleans assistants have also been linked to the Broncos’ work-in-progress coaching staff, including former co-defensive coordinator Kris Richard. If Ryan is hired as Payton’s defensive coordinator over Richard, he may have to look for an opening as a position coach elsewhere around the league. There could be other ripple effects here if Payton and Ryan can cut a deal, so we’ll see if those developments reach New Orleans.

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24 former Saints players getting another shot in the XFL spring league

7 of the 8 XFL teams have rostered former Saints. Some were only here long enough to pour a cup of coffee, but we’re rooting for all of them in their next opportunity:

The XFL is returning for its 2023 season, with opening day rapidly approaching. And there will be a lot of former New Orleans Saints players crowding the sidelines in Saturday’s kickoff game between the Las Vegas Vipers and Arlington Renegades — it’ll be broadcast nationally on ABC, beginning at 2 p.m. CT.

Seven of the spring league’s eight teams have at least one former Saints player on their roster. Some of these players were only in New Orleans for a few weeks, just long enough to learn the playbook and pour a cup of coffee. Others were draft picks, free agent signings, and fan-favorites.

But at some point they all walked onto the practice field on Airline Drive in a helmet with a fleur-de-lis on it, and we’re rooting for them as they chase their second shot at playing pro football. Here’s the full list:

Former Saints assistant Curtis Johnson hired as USFL team head coach

Former Saints WR coach Curtis Johnson has been hired as the USFL’s Houston Gamblers head coach. His first game is against his old coworker Mike Nolan’s Michigan Panthers:

This is cool: the USFL has hired former New Orleans Saints wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson as the head coach of its Houston Gamblers franchise. Johnson’s coaching career took off with the Saints from 2006 to 2011, when he was hired as head coach of the Tulane Green Wave; he later returned to New Orleans as a senior offensive assistant from 2017 to 2021, though Dennis Allen didn’t retain him after taking over as head coach.

Now Johnson is running his own team again. The Gamblers compete in the USFL’s South division and are looking to make some noise after a 3-7 debut under head coach Kevin Sumlin last year.

The spring league’s 2023 season kicks off in April, with Johnson’s Gamblers meeting a team coached by one of his old coworkers — former Saints linebackers coach Mike Nolan, now head coach of the Michigan Panthers. The Gamblers and Panthers will play in Memphis, Tenn. at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on April 16. The USFL is rolling out a regional hub model after playing all of its games in Birmingham, Ala. during the 2022 campaign, with plans to install each franchise in its own home city in the near future.

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Saints assistant Declan Doyle is joining Sean Payton’s Broncos coaching staff

Former Saints offensive assistant Declan Doyle is, like Zach Strief, leaving for a promotion on Sean Payton’s coaching staff with the Broncos:

Former New Orleans Saints offensive assistant Declan Doyle is, like Zach Strief, leaving for a promotion on Sean Payton’s coaching staff with the Denver Broncos per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. Doyle helped out with the Saints tight ends and coached some prospects at that position during this year’s Senior Bowl, but the opportunity for advancement with the coach that hired him in the first place was worth pursuing.

Doyle is another departure for Payton’s Broncos staff after he brought Strief, their assistant offensive line coach, in for a full-time role. Multiple former Saints coaches are also in consideration for jobs under Payton in Denver, though at least one assistant, Kevin Petry, is staying in New Orleans.

The Saints also dismissed longtime tight ends coach Dan Roushar earlier this offseason (who has since been hired as Tulane’s offensive line coach), and Doyle was at least initially viewed as a candidate to replace him. With both of them out of the building, Dennis Allen instead turned to veteran coach Clancy Barone, who has a history of helping his players reach their Pro Bowl potential. Hopefully the Saints can re-sign tight end Juwan Johnson, who is a restricted free agent coming off of a breakout year.

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3 former Saints among first-year eligible candidates for Hall of Fame in 2024

The list of first-year eligible candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024 includes 3 former New Orleans Saints players:

Three former New Orleans Saints players are on the list of potential candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, including Super Bowl XLIV champion Jermon Bushrod. He’s joined by former Saints center Max Unger and running back Chris Ivory as players who will become eligible for induction next year.

Bushrod started 132 of the 153 games he played in the NFL, including the playoffs, predominately with the Saints (72 starts in 85 games) at left tackle. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2011 and 2012 with New Orleans before spending the second leg with the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins, returning to the Saints to close out his career in 2018.

Unger joined the Saints in a 2015 trade with the Seattle Seahawks and rarely missed a snap, starting all 67 games he played for New Orleans (including the postseason) and winning Pro Bowl recognition in 2018, his last year in the NFL. He totaled 142 games in the league between his time with the Saints and Seahawks, including the playoffs, earning three Pro Bowl nods and winning a Super Bowl title in 2013.

Ivory had the briefest Saints career of the bunch, only appearing in 26 games from 2010 to 2012 after being signed as an undrafted free agent by way of Washington State and Tiffin University in Ohio. But he made a quick impression with his powerful running style and big-play ability, which won him a nice contract extension with the New York Jets after being traded in 2013 (where he made the Pro Bowl a few years later). Ivory closed out his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.

To be frank, all three of these players are long-shots, and they probably won’t make it past the first rounds of discussion. A more realistic candidate is former Saints right guard Jahri Evans who was discussed as a semifinalist in this year’s cycle, and he’ll be in the mix again for the Class of 2023. His resume as a six-time Pro Bowler and four appearances on the All-Pro first team offense speaks for itself. We’ll see if Evans or any of Drew Brees’ former teammates get into the Hall of Fame before No. 9’s own candidacy is brought up in 2026.

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6 former Saints players competing for Eagles and Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII

6 former Saints players are competing for a championship with the Eagles and Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII:

A couple of former New Orleans Saints players are competing for a championship with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas city Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday night, with several of them playing big roles for Philly. Some of these players departed New Orleans on their own terms — others were castoffs who the team felt it was time to let loose. Good for them on putting in the work to get to the biggest game of the year.

Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT on FOX. Here are the former Saints players who will be playing in Super Bowl LVII from each team:

Sean Payton says former Saints RB Latavius Murray was recruiting him to Broncos in-season

Sean Payton says former Saints RB Latavius Murray was recruiting him to the Broncos before they even fired Nathaniel Hackett:

Sean Payton hasn’t been shy about his admiration for Latavius Murray. He called the former New Orleans Saints running back one of his favorite players during his introductory press conference as head coach of the Denver Broncos, and expressed his hope that Murray would be re-signed as one of his new team’s many pending free agents.

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show from Radio Row ahead of Super Bowl LVII, Payton plucked Murray from the crowd as he happened to walk nearby and share an interesting anecdote about Murray’s role in getting him to Denver.

“And he texted me right at Christmastime, the 23rd of December. he sent this text: ‘Hey my backfield teammate and I, we hope you come to Denver.’ And I’m thinking, what backfield teammate?” Payton shrugged. “I’m looking up who the other running back is, I’m like ‘Who are you talking about?’ And he sent ‘No. 3.’ So I’m like, we’re in the middle of the season here, I text him back: ‘Be careful what you’re asking Santa Claus for.'”

Let’s check the calendar on that — Payton says Murray texted him on Dec. 23, which he didn’t refute while sitting next to McAfee on the live set. That’s two days before the Broncos got shellacked 51-14 by the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 25, and Denver sacked first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett a day later on Dec. 26. So Murray and his No. 3-wearing teammate Russell Wilson were stumping for Payton when Hackett was still down the hall writing his opening script for the Rams game.

Yikes. But that goes to show how dire things had gotten in Denver, and the kind of mess Payton walked into. Now he’s got to clean it up. It’s clear that he sees players like Murray as a part of the solution, and the irony that Murray joining the Broncos in the first place was received poorly (at best) by Saints fans shouldn’t go unnoticed. New Orleans tried to keep him after he came off the bench to run for 57 yards and punch in a touchdown against his old Minnesota Vikings team in last year’s London game, but he rightfully saw a better opportunity in Denver. If he and Payton get their way, he’ll be back with a big role in mind for 2023.

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Report: Former Saints assistant Dan Roushar to be named Tulane OL coach

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reports former Saints assistant Dan Roushar is expected to be hired as Tulane’s offensive line coach, via @MaddyHudak_94:

As the coaching staff for the New Orleans Saints continues to shape up, former assistant coach Dan Roushar has found a new local home in the college ranks. As first reported by the Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, the Tulane Green Wave is finalizing a deal to hire Roushar as their offensive line coach.

Roushar was one of the first significant departures on the staff following an underwhelming 7-10 season under Dennis Allen. The longtime Saints coach became the running backs coach in 2013 and was the offensive line coach for five seasons until being moved to tight ends in 2021 when Allen hired Doug Marrone.

Often at the facility on Airline Drive themselves, the Green Wave are looking to capitalize on their unprecedented success in the 2022 season where they accomplished the greatest single-season turnaround in college football history – culminating in a Cotton Bowl victory against the USC Trojans to finish 12-2.

As is the case in college football success, Tulane saw some turnover on their coaching staff, including offensive line coach Eman Naghavi who joined the Houston Cougars. One of the most critical position group hires of last season, Naghavi’s turnaround of the Green Wave’s offensive line was miraculous.

While Roushar was ultimately let go by New Orleans and not poached by Tulane, head coach Willie Fritz values longtime experience – and Roushar has that in spades. It’s worth noting that his work with tight ends may prove equally valuable with the promotion of former Tulane tight ends coach Slade Nagle to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

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3 former Saints assistants ‘in the mix’ to join Sean Payton’s Broncos staff

Former Saints assistants Joe Lombardi, Dan Roushar, and Kris Richard are reportedly in the mix to join Sean Payton on the Broncos coaching staff:

It isn’t too surprising that Sean Payton is pulling from the years of connections he made with the New Orleans Saints to assemble his staff on the Denver Broncos. Payton is bringing Saints assistant offensive line coach Zach Strief with him to work with the Broncos blockers up front, and KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis reports that three other former Saints assistants are “in the mix” for jobs on Payton’s new coaching staff.

Two of them were just recently let go by second-year head coach Dennis Allen: co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Kris Richard as well as run-game coordinator and tight ends coach Dan Roushar. They aren’t alone, though. Let’s dive a little deeper into the names Klis reports are in consideration in Denver: