Tag: Andrew Janocko

Teddy Bridgewater shares unexpected connections with 2024 Saints team

Teddy Bridgewater, who plans to make an NFL return in the near future, shares some surprising connections with the Saints’ new-look coaching staff:

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has announced that he plans to make an NFL return in the upcoming weeks, and while the Saints may not be the most likely landing spot, he does share some intriguing connections with their current offensive staff. Beyond his two-season stint from 2018-2019 with the Saints, there are some former faces he may recognize from around the league currently on the Saints coaching staff as well.

First up is current Saints quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, who worked with the Minnesota Vikings from 2015 to 2017, which overlaps with three of the four seasons Teddy Bridgewater played for the Vikings. While Janocko was not a quarterbacks coach at the time, he was an offensive quality control assistant for the first two of those seasons before moving to be an assistant offensive line coach, so they likely worked together in those first two seasons.

Another notable coaching overlap is current Saints senior offensive assistant Rick Dennison, who was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator in 2018 for the New York Jets, where Bridgewater spent his offseason before being traded to the Saints prior to the season.

Interim head coach Darren Rizzi and general manager Mickey Loomis would ultimately make the calls on any potential signing if one were in the works, and both of them were obviously here during the time frame Bridgewater was, and got to see how successful he was in the absence of Drew Brees during his thumb injury. We will see where Bridgewater ultimately ends up, but there are definitely a few notable ties between him and the current Saints staff (as well as the roster) worth noting.

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Saints agree to terms on one-year deal with free agent OL Lucas Patrick

The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms on a one-year deal with free agent offensive lineman Lucas Patrick:

Here’s some improved depth for the New Orleans Saints’ offensive line. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reported that the Saints have reached an agreement with free agent lineman Lucas Patrick on a one-year deal. Patrick has spent seven years in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and, most recently, the Chicago Bears. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Duke.

Last year Patrick started 15 games at center for Chicago, where he worked with Andrew Janocko; the current Saints quarterbacks coach held the same role with the Bears. In his career Patrick has logged 1,000-plus snaps at both center and right guard, as well as 628 reps at left guard. So he could push guys like Nick Saldiveri and Shane Lemieux for that vacancy.

There won’t be a corresponding move for the Saints signing Patrick. They filled 89 of 90 roster spots going into rookie minicamp this weekend so they had room for one more. But we should anticipate some roster moves after that minicamp with several dozen players trying out in hopes of landing a spot on that 90-man roster. Stay tuned.

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Saints could have traded for Justin Fields, if they had wanted to

The Saints had the draft picks to trade for Justin Fields, and they just hired his quarterbacks coach. It says a lot about their plans that he wasn’t considered:

It says a lot about the New Orleans Saints’ plans at quarterback that they never entered trade talks while the Chicago Bears were trying to find a new home for Justin Fields. The 25-year-old was dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft; if he’s able to get on the field ahead of Russell Wilson and play well, it can turn into a fourth rounder.

The Saints could have beaten that offer. They own multiple picks in rounds five and six this year which is more lucrative than selections in 2025. They could’ve made a stronger offer than Pittsburgh did, had they chosen to.

And they had an inside scoop on Fields after hiring his quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko. Janocko worked closely with Fields the last two years in Chicago and knew everything there was to know about the young quarterback. If the Saints liked what he had to say, they would’ve made a move. But they didn’t.

Which gets to our point: the Saints weren’t interested. As we’ve been saying, they want to support Derek Carr, not threaten his position on top of the depth chart with someone who might be better. They don’t want to have more ugly moments were fans were booing him off the field and cheering on Jameis Winston as happened last year. That’s why they signed a mediocre backup in Nathan Peterman, whose best-case scenario is getting blitzed by Jake Haener in training camp before hanging on with the practice squad, maybe.

Carr was a tough watch for much of the 2023 season. Still, Saints decision-makers like head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Mickey Loomis are confident he can deliver on the expectations that come with his $150 million contract. To his credit, Carr was much more impressive through the last six weeks when ex-offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael began tailoring the offense to his strengths with more play-action passes and pre-snap movement. Allen hired an entirely new offensive coaching staff this offseason, including Janocko, with the goal of putting Carr in a position to succeed.

Does that mean they were right to pass on Fields? No. Teams should keep adding quarterbacks until they know they have the right one, whether that means rolling the dice in free agency, taking a flyer on another team’s castoff, or drafting one themselves. Carr, who turns 33 in a few weeks, has probably hit his ceiling without ever winning a single playoff game. Allen, Loomis, and the Saints as an organization are determined to find out if he can lead the team to success in spite of that. They’re going with Carr, sink or swim, and that’s why they’re not in on an exciting young quarterback like Fields. It’s why fans shouldn’t expect them to draft another passer coming out of college, either.

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First look at the New Orleans Saints 2024 offensive coaching staff

The New Orleans Saints 2024 offensive coaching staff is complete. Here’s a look at all of the new faces and returning assistants working with Klint Kubiak:

The New Orleans Saints had a frustrating offense in 2023, which led to an almost complete overhaul of the staff for the 2024 season.

Starting with a new offensive coordinator in Klint Kubiak, the Saints filled out a new staff that only has a couple of returning names. With the list of potential coordinators that the Saints interviewed, it is clear that the team wanted to take a younger and more innovative approach this season. Most of the traces of the Sean Payton era are now gone from the offense as they now embrace the new era of offensive football.

Here are all of the coaches that will run the Saints offense in 2024, as the team tries to find success with the same core players:

Saints assistant Jordan Traylor has a new assignment in 2024

New Orleans Saints assistant coach Jordan Traylor has a new assignment in 2024: working with the quarterbacks

The New Orleans Saints are hiring within their own staff as Jordan Traylor has been promoted to the assistant quarterbacks coach, replacing D.J. Williams, per 247 Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

Traylor played college football at Texas A&M as a quarterback, and has been with New Orleans for five years now. He spent two years as a scouting assistant before joining the coaching staff as a defensive assistant. He switched to offense last season and will now move up to his new role for 2024. It’s clear that he has made a name for himself in New Orleans as he will stick around among a lot of offensive turnover on the staff.

Traylor will work closely with recently hired quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko. It’s a positive that the Saints were able to find at least some continuity within the offensive staff as Janocko remains an up-and-coming coach at just 36 years old. Janocko could leave for a promotion of his own if Derek Carr makes rapid progress in the fall. Developing in-house replacements like Traylor is a key to sustaining success.

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Saints expected to finalize hires of Klint Kubiak, several assistants after Super Bowl LVIII

NFL Network reports what we’ve been expecting: the Saints plan to finalize their hires of Klint Kubiak and several assistant coaches after Super Bowl LVIII:

Here’s more support for what we’ve been expecting: NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the New Orleans Saints plan to formalize their hire of Klint Kubiak and introduce him as their new offensive coordinator after Super Bowl LVIII, an expectation which has already been reported. Kubiak is the San Francisco 49ers pass game specialist and has previously called plays for the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos. Out goes Pete Carmichael and in steps Klint Kubiak.

That’s not all. Pelissero confirms that two coaches are expected to join Kubiak’s staff after previously being targeted by the Saints. John Benton only worked with Kubiak briefly while coaching the Houston Texans offensive line under Gary Kubiak, his father, but he brings a wealth of experience after spending decades in the NFL, and he’s expected to replace Doug Marrone as the Saints’ offensive line coach.

Additionally, and as previously reported, ex-Chicago Bears quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko is expected to join the Saints in the same capacity. He held that position under Kubiak on the Vikings back in 2021 and will be replacing Ronald Curry.

While Kubiak is retaining Saints tight ends coach Clancy Barone (who he has worked with before) and a few assistant coaches, it’s going to be an entirely new offensive system for New Orleans derived from the Shanahan-Kubiak coaching tree. It’s unclear who will take over as the Saints’ new wide receivers and running backs coaches (and who else may be in the mix for other positions), so stay tuned.

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Report: Saints expected to hire Andrew Janocko as their new QB coach

ESPN reports the Saints are expected to hire Andrew Janocko as their new quarterbacks coach. He previously coached Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields:

This is an interesting move. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the New Orleans Saints are expected to hire Andrew Janocko as their new quarterbacks coach on Klint Kubiak’s staff, replacing Ronald Curry.

Janocko and Kubiak have worked together before, and in these same roles. Janocko was Kubiak’s quarterbacks coach when he was calling plays as the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator back in 2021. Before that, he worked in a variety of roles in Minnesota, at one point being named co-offensive line coach with Clancy Barone (the current Saints tight ends coach).

Most recently, though Janocko was coaching Justin Fields for the Chicago Bears. But the young quarterback struggled to make much progress under his tutelage and Janocko was let go along with many other assistants after the 2023 season. The Saints are betting that his established chemistry with other coaches on their staff and the opportunity to work with an experienced quarterback will lead to success. Let’s see if they’re right.

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Bears fire OC Luke Getsy, QB coach Andrew Janocko

The Bears have made some moves to their offensive staff, firing OC Luke Getsy and QB coach Andrew Janocko.

The Chicago Bears have fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

The Bears have also fired quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko.

Getsy served as the team’s offensive playcaller for two seasons, but his failure to get the most out of quarterback Justin Fields most likely contributed to his firing, along with Janocko’s.

While Chicago had a top rushing offense, they were a bottom-five passing offense in back-to-back seasons.

As for what this means for Matt Eberflus’ future, it appears to be an indication that he could be back in 2024. Now, whether it’ll be Fields back at QB remains to be seen.

More to come.

Bears NFL power rankings round-up going into Week 18

After nine straight losses, the Bears remain near the bottom of the NFL power rankings heading into Week 18.

Heading into the final week of the 2022 NFL season, the Chicago Bears are 3-13. They’re coming off of a blowout loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions, 41-10, and have nothing to lose but a better draft selection.

This has been one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history. The Bears have been around for 103 seasons and had yet to lose nine games in a row until this season. If they lose on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, they make it 10. It will also be their first 14-game losing season in team history.

Going into Week 18, the Bears are as low as they’ll be in the power rankings. Let’s take a look at where they stand to finish off the 2022 regular season.

30 Most Important Bears of 2022: No. 7 Andrew Janocko

Next up in our 30 Most Important Bears is QB coach Andrew Janocko, who will play an instrumental role in Justin Fields’ development in 2022.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2022 NFL season, which features plenty of new and returning faces within the organization. There are a number of players, coaches and front office members that are crucial to the team’s success this season.

Every day from now until the start of training camp, we’re counting down our 30 most important Bears for the 2022 season. We’ll recap their 2021 season, look ahead to 2022 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year.

At No. 7 is quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, who will play an instrumental role in Justin Fields’ development this season.