Tag: Jeff Ireland

Mickey Loomis shoots down rumor, says he isn’t stepping down as GM

Mickey Loomis shoots down rumor, says he isn’t stepping down or changing his title as Saints general manager and executive vice president:

Forget what you read on social media: Mickey Loomis isn’t going anywhere. The New Orleans Saints general manager and executive vice president was asked about a rumor going around in fan communities online that he would be moving to a different role in the organization, freeing up one of his top assistants to succeed him as general manager.

And Loomis dismissed it as just that: a rumor.

“Somebody just made that up,” Loomis said. “That’s never been discussed or talked about.”

Loomis added that he could wake up one day and feel differently about his place in the organization, but as of now the course is set. He’ll remain in place as the team’s top decision-maker both in title and in practice.

That’s all happening in the wake of interview requests from other teams hoping to poach talent from the Saints’ front office. Loomis acknowledged that assistant general managers Khai Harley and Jeff Ireland were sought out by the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively, and he added that pro personnel director Michael Parenton is someone else he regards highly within their organization. Harley manages the salary cap, and Ireland covers the college scouting department, and there’s a chance both of them leave town in the near future.

That would be a mistake. Loomis might be the longest-tenured general manager in the league but he doesn’t have much to show for it without Sean Payton and Drew Brees. His Saints teams have gone a combined 44-54 from 2002 to 2005 and 2022 to 2023, before and after Payton was leading them. A lot was made of Loomis guiding the Saints to 200-plus career wins this season but Payton takes credit for 152 of them (and Super Bowl XLIV).

Losing talented executives like Ireland and Harley to protect Loomis’ job security is, well, laughable. But Loomis was all laughs at his end-of-year press conference on Wednesday. He isn’t going anywhere until he’s good and ready, and he took this opportunity to remind everyone watching that he’s in control here. Ownership won’t force him out, and he isn’t about to give up his title to benefit someone else. He wants to prove he can win without Payton. If that means standing by a coach like Dennis Allen, well — good luck.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Jeff Ireland’s interview for the Chargers’ GM position is Wednesday

The Los Angeles Chargers requested permission to meet with Jeff Ireland for their open GM job a week ago, and the interview date has been set:

New Orleans Saints assistant general manager Jeff Ireland is set to interview for the Los Angeles Chargers’ vacant general manager position on Wednesday, per multiple reports. This would be a promotion for Ireland and a return to a position he once held with the Miami Dolphins. The Chargers requested the interview a week ago, and Josina Anderson first reported on Tuesday evening the interview will be Wednesday.

Ireland is the Saints’ assistant general manager and vice president of college scouting, so losing him would be big. He’s played a big part in evaluating college talent and finding diamonds in the rough like All-Pro return man Rashid Shaheed.

This isn’t the first time Ireland has interviewed for a general manager vacancy. In 2022, he interviewed with the Chicago Bears for the same position. If he accepts the position with the Chargers, Ireland would be the second Saints assistant general manager to be hired as another team’s general manager recently. Terry Fontenot was hired by the Atlanta Falcons in 2021.

Chargers request interview with Saints’ Jeff Ireland for open GM job

The Chargers requested an interview with the Saints’ Jeff Ireland concerning their open general manager job:

Could the New Orleans Saints lose both of Mickey Loomis’ top lieutenants? NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Los Angeles Chargers have requested an interview with Jeff Ireland for their open general manager position; the Saints’ assistant general manager and vice president of college personnel has received several inquiries in recent years, but a job offer has yet to materialize. Ireland has ran his own team before as the Miami Dolphins general manager, though that stint ended without much success.

Still, there’s a good chance another team gives him a shot someday. That’s also true of New Orleans’ other assistant GM Khai Harley, their vice president of football operations who manages the team salary cap. Harley received an interview request from the Carolina Panthers as they also seek to hire a new general manager.

Which means there’s a real possibility that the Saints could lose each of their best internal candidates to replace Loomis someday in one offseason. Loomis is the longest-tenured general manager in the NFL and doesn’t appear to be ready to leave his post. If the Saints front office hemorrhages talent this offseason and he steps into a different role or retires in a few years, they could have a hard time replacing him.

Saints salary cap expert Khai Harley to attend NFL General Manager Accelerator event

Saints salary cap expert Khai Harley is one of many candidates attending this year’s NFL Front Office and General Manager Accelerator event:

Khai Harley is the New Orleans Saints’ secret weapon. His official job title is listed as the assistant general manager and vice president of football administration, but Harley’s main role in the front office is navigating the salary cap. No one knows the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement better, and he works around the clock each year to find loopholes and clauses to exploit so the Saints can get the most bang for their buck.

And it’s put him on other teams’ radars. Harley is on track to run his own team someday, and his participation in key summits like the annual NFL Front Office and General Manager Accelerator event at league meetings in December will only help raise his profile around the NFL.

Harley was announced as one of dozens of candidates from many teams around the league who have been selected for this year’s Accelerator, which will give him opportunities to network with team owners and other executives before the next hiring cycle. The event also features seminars, mock interviews, and professional development workshops to help prepare future general managers.

Could Harley be the next man up in New Orleans? He shares the assistant general manager title with Jeff Ireland (who is also the team’s vice president of college personnel), a former general manager himself. Mickey Loomis runs the show and is the longest-tenured GM around the league, but it’s possible he could step up into an executive role in the years ahead. The Saints would be wise to hold onto Harley, but if Loomis isn’t ready to give up his seat he may go elsewhere in search of the right opportunity.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Saints spotted scouting Florida State-Clemson matchup in CFB Week 4

The Saints were spotted scouting Florida State’s matchup with Clemson on Saturday. They’ve spent a lot of time around both programs recently:

The New Orleans Saints were spotted scouting Florida State’s matchup with Clemson this week, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid, who listed them among 11 NFL teams in attendance for Saturday’s game. They’ve spent a lot of time around both programs recently — Saints assistant general manager Jeff Ireland visited FSU’s campus two weeks ago, and of course the team’s top rookie draft pick Bryan Bresee comes from Clemson.

It makes sense to give the prospects in this game the attention they’re due. Florida State’s Jared Verse is one of the most exciting pass rushers eligible for the 2024 draft class, and his teammate Keon Coleman is making an argument to be picked in the first round at wide receiver. Coleman lined up often against Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, one of several first-round defensive prospects for the Tigers along with linebackers Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

All of this attention doesn’t mean the Saints will pick any of these players in the 2024 draft. It probably doesn’t mean anything. But it could mean something. We’ll keep it in mind when the offseason rolls around and the draft news cycle picks up.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Saints assistant GM Jeff Ireland spotted scouting NFL prospects at Florida State

New Orleans Saints assistant general manager Jeff Ireland was spotted scouting NFL prospects at Florida State practice:

This feels noteworthy.  The Tallahassee Democrat’s Ehsan Kassim reported last week that New Orleans Saints college scouting director Jeff Ireland was in attendance at one of Florida State’s practices before their road game at Boston College (which they narrowly won 31-29). NFL scouts are on the road often this time of year, but it’s interesting to see an assistant general manager taking such a hands-on approach.

But FSU makes sense as somewhere to go looking for talent. Playmaking defensive end Jared Verse is a top-ten prospect (maybe top-five) in the 2024 draft class, and his teammate Keon Coleman is building momentum as a first-round prospect at wide receiver. Running back Trey Benson and wide receiver Johnny Wilson are also earning early-round buzz. Quarterback Jordan Travis has drawn high expectations, too.

There are mid-round prospects worth looking into like tight end Jaheim Bell, defensive linemen Fabien Lovett and Braden Fiske, and cornerback Fentrell Cypress, too. It’s too soon to draw any credible links between the Saints and players who might enter the 2024 draft, much less suggesting they’ll draft them just because Ireland stopped by campus one day in September. But it’s an interesting data point to keep in mind and maybe circle back to in the spring.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Saints announce staff changes, promote Khai Harley to assistant GM

New Orleans Saints announce staff changes for 2023 season, promote salary cap specialist Khai Harley to assistant general manager:

This is cool: the New Orleans Saints announced a couple of staff changes and additions on Tuesday, with the most notable news being a promotion for Khai Harley. The salary cap specialist still retains his title as vice president of football operations — but he’s now pulling double-duty as their assistant general manager.

Mickey Loomis is still on top of the organizational chart as general manager and executive vice president, but Harley now shares a title with Jeff Ireland as assistant GM to Loomis. Ireland’s main focus remains on the college scouting department, but now both he and Harley carry the assistant GM title.

Loomis is the longest-tenured general manager in the league. He’ll turn 67 this year. He won’t be around forever, and it’s very possible that the Saints are setting up someone like Harley to succeed him in a couple of years. Ireland also has experience at the top of the organization from his six-year run with the Miami Dolphins. Either way, this promotion is a well-deserved recognition for a key member of the front office. Harley has done a great job navigating the salary cap and the CBA to keep the Saints competitive year in and year out.

What about the other moves? For the most part, the Saints confirmed additions who were previously reported during the summer like defensive assistant coach Matt Giordano, analytics director Zach Stuart, and football administration director Scott Kuhn. They also shuffled the scouting department with Matt Phillips becoming an area scout and Will Martinez taking over as NFL combine scout.

But a couple of other new hires stand out. Former Louisiana Tech assistant to the head coach and NFL liaison Ziad Qubti is joining the team as their new college scouting coordinator under Ireland, with Rishi Desai (former Ole Miss director of scouting and an LSU graduate) also joining the scouting department. It’s good to see minority candidates getting these opportunities, especially with the NFL awarding compensatory draft picks when they’re hired to executive positions. If they help the organization find good players and develop into sought-after GM candidates in their own right, them leaving someday would bring back valuable draft assets to New Orleans. It’s a win-win.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

WATCH: Saints call Isaiah Foskey to inform him he’s being drafted

WATCH: Saints call Isaiah Foskey to inform him he’s being drafted

You may have already seen Isaiah Foskey and his family celebrating the news that he was being picked by the New Orleans Saints in the 2023 NFL draft — now check out the other side of that conversation when college scouting director Jeff Ireland and head coach Dennis Allen called him up from the Saints war room.

“Yeah man, hey, listen, you made our day too,” Allen grinned. “It’s a great pick for us, a great situation for you. You get to come in here, get a chance to play for a really good defense. Get a chance to get after the quarterback and stop this run a little bit.”

Allen stressed to Foskey that he should “enjoy this moment” while he had him on the phone; from the sound of it, Foskey is ready to go ahead and fly into town so he can get to work. He’ll be a big part of the Saints’ plans up front after Marcus Davenport left in free agency.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[stnvideo key=”GKmpoxDx5v-2711704-7618″ type=”amp”]

WATCH: Saints make the call to draft Bryan Bresee in Round 1

WATCH: Saints brass Jeff Ireland, Dennis Allen and Mickey Loomis make draft-day phone call to Bryan Bresee, advising him to ‘Bring your lunch pail’

It’s not often that you get to see both sides of a phone conversation, but that’s what the New Orleans Saints helped share with us after selecting Bryan Bresee in Thursday night’s opening round of the 2023 NFL draft.

We’ve already seen Bresee’s side of the conversation, but now we get a look at things from inside the Saints’ war room. College scouting director Jeff Ireland made the call to Bresee to share the good news, reflecting on their productive visit on Clemson’s campus from earlier in the pre-draft process before handing the phone off to Dennis Allen, seated next to team owner Gayle Benson.

“You ready to be a New Orleans Saint?” Allen grinned. “Yeah, man, we’re excited about it. We’re so excited to get you in here and get going, now we need to see if we can win us a championship. All I want you to do is get in here and work your tail off. You do that and you’re going to be just fine.”

From there the phone traveled to general manager Mickey Loomis, who stepped aside to pass some instructions on to Bresee before the Saints PR department reached out to schedule local media availability. His right-hand man Khai Harley, vice president of football administration, was quick to congratulate his peers on the selection.

“We’re excited to have you. So come ready to go. Bring your lunch pail,” Loomis advised.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Dennis Allen, Jeff Ireland to represent Saints at Ohio State and Alabama pro days

Dennis Allen and Jeff Ireland plan to represent the Saints at pro days for Ohio State and Alabama this week. They’ll get a good look at many top 2023 draft prospects:

Two of the New Orleans Saints’ top decision-makers will be getting a good look at some of the best prospects in the 2023 NFL draft this week. Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan reports that head coach Dennis Allen and college scouting director Jeff Ireland are planning to attend the pro days for Ohio State (on Wednesday, March 22) and Alabama (on Thursday, March 23) with dozens of draft-eligible players in attendance. Expect multiple position coaches and area scouts to accompany them so they can get eyes on as many prospects as possible. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds that Saints general manager Mickey Loomis will also be in Columbus for Ohio State’s pro day.

Are the Saints tipping their hand by sending Allen and Ireland to these big-name pro day workouts? Maybe, maybe not. They were both in attendance for Ohio State’s pro day last year (along with wide receivers coach Kodi Burns) to scout Chris Olave and his teammates, and liked what they saw so much they were moved to trade up for Olave in the first round of the 2022 draft. That doesn’t necessarily mean history will repeat itself, but it’s still interesting to see which school pro days the Saints are prioritizing.

Here the top draft-eligible prospects from both Ohio State and Alabama: