The Saints' offseason plans are still under evaluation, but at least one other NFC South team is already getting the wheels spinning toward 2023.
The Atlanta Falcons have requested permission to interview Saints co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen for their vacant DC role, according to a report from The Athletic's Bruce Feldman.
The are in need of new defensive coordinator following the retirement of Dean Pees. The 73-year-old has been the Falcons DC on head coach Arthur Smith's staff each of the past two seasons. Pees was notably hospitalized prior to the Falcons-Saints game at the Caesars Superdome earlier this year following an accidental collision during warmups. Pees avoided any major injuries and said it did not factor into his decision.
The news comes a day after Saints GM Mickey Loomis addressed the media following a 7-10 regular season that concluded with optimism and one of the league's most effective defensive rosters. Nielsen served as the co-DC and defensive line coach, with Kris Richard the other half of the DC equation and secondary coach. It was a unique triangular setup that also included head coach Dennis Allen calling defensive plays on gamedays.
Nielsen has served as linebackers coach since 2017, with his role being elevated along with Richard's and Allen's prior to the 2022 season. Nielsen also briefly flirted with becoming the LSU football defensive coordinator prior to the 2021 season, but ultimately stayed on with the Saints while adding an Assistant Head Coach title under Sean Payton.
The Falcons' front office is, of course, led by former Saints staffer Terry Fontenot, who took over as the Atlanta GM prior to the 2021 season.
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The unique nature of the Saints' defensive configuration makes the process a bit more interesting. Teams have the ability to block their coaches, whom are under contract, from interviewing with other teams for what would be considered a lateral move and not a promotion. Loomis indicated on Friday that the co-DC setup would allow for either Nielsen or Richard to take on a play-calling DC role, which would be considered a major promotion. The Falcons have requested permission, but it's unclear whether the Saints could deny it, regardless.
When asked whether any Saints front office staff had been requested for GM interviews this offseason, Loomis said "not yet," making sure not to rule anything out.
Either way, the news marks the first major ripple among a Saints coaching staff that could potentially see changes after a disappointing debut season with the new Allen regime. The head coach indicated the co-DC setup was a positive experience and could return for another season. The Saints have made it clear that they wouldn't overreact to the emotion of the season and would follow their standard methodical approach and evaluation process. When Loomis spoke to the media on Friday, that process had not yet taken place for Allen or the rest of the coaching staff.
If Nielsen were to jump ship to the other half of a bitter NFC South rivalry, it would shift the question from whether the co-DC setup should return, to Richard's potential role as the sole leader of it. Richard joined the Saints as the defensive backs coach prior to the 2021 season and does have notable experience as a defensive coordinator. Richard was the defensive backs coach for the Seattle Seahawks amid the peak "Legion of Boom" era, and served as defensive coordinator from 2015-'17.
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