The poaching has continued for Sean Payton as he continues to build out his new staff with the Denver Broncos, and that will include elevating a former Saints assistant into a key role.
Declan Doyle, who has been with the Saints since 2019, has agreed to join the Broncos coaching staff, according to a report from Nick Underhill of New Orleans.football. Previous reports had indicated he was interviewing for the tight end position.
Doyle coached tight ends at the Senior Bowl to begin February, a potential trial run for the gig he would later step into. When asked about his former coach, he gave a glowing review.
“It’s like getting a PHD in football. … I got exposed to the highest level of scheme, the highest level of coaching, detail,” he said. "Obviously [Payton] comes from the [Bill] Parcells tree and all that. But it’s like being around a savant, being around somebody that not only is really intelligent, but he’s a great teacher and he cares about people and all that. It changed my life, is what it did.”
The Saints are still yet to officially name a new TE coach for the vacancy that was created when they parted ways with Dan Roushar following the 2022 season, but reports indicate they are looking to hire Clancy Barone in that spot. Roushar also served as run game coordinator, a position that could be addressed in a number of ways. TE is currently the only full position coach they’ll be replacing on the offensive side of the ball, barring any further moves.
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Payton has also been active for additional poachings and attempted poachings. Assistant OL coach Zach Strief was the first to join his former boss’s staff, having been hired by Payton prior to the 2021 season after spending three years as the play-by-play announcer for WWL Radio and a 12-year career with the Saints.
“It’s only right because I found him,” Payton told reporters prior to Super Bowl 57.
The other name to watch is Saints QBs Ronald Curry, who is a candidate for the Broncos’ offensive coordinator vacancy. He was also interviewed for the OC vacancy with the Bucs after the firing of Byron Leftwich, a position that has still not been filled on Todd Bowles’ staff. Payton had also reportedly extended a job offer to Saints assistant Kevin Petry, but he opted to remain with the Saints.
Teams can block lateral moves for coaches under contract if they so choose, but that cannot be done in instances where it'd be a clear promotion. That was the case for both Strief and Doyle, and it'd be for Curry if he takes an OC job.
The Saints have been far more active in rebuilding the defensive staff, with both co-defensive coordinators departing this offseason. Ryan Nielsen, who also served as defensive line coach, moved on for the offensive coordinator position with the Atlanta Falcons. The team also opted to part ways with co-DC and secondary coach Kris Richard, who has not yet resurfaced for any potential jobs. They’ve reportedly hired former Browns DC Joe Woods in the DC role for New Orleans, longtime NFL and SEC assistant Todd Grantham to presumably fill the DL coach spot, and former Cardinals assistant Marcus Robertson, most likely to lead the secondary group.
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