Ronald Curry wasn’t overwhelmed by changes in the 2022 season, even with Sean Payton handing over the keys to the offense to longtime coordinator Pete Carmichael.
And that’s what he expects to continue, even with some added exposure for the Saints QBs coach and passing game coordinator as he serves as one of the offensive coordinators at the Senior Bowl.
"it’s not like it was foreign to anybody,” Curry said of the team’s approach to the 2022 season. "We had a staff that had pretty much been there. We had a couple of new hires, but everybody’s been around each other for so long, but it was an easy transition.”
But there does appear to be a continued respect for Curry’s potential as an offensive leader in the NFL. The Tampa Bay Bucs announced they’d completed an interview with Curry for their OC vacancy, one of many across the NFL this offseason. It’s a familiar spot for Curry, who said he received multiple interviews last year as well.
Curry wouldn’t delve too much into that process, but he’s always flattered by the interest. A member of the Saints staff since 2016, Curry began as an offensive assistant and then WRs coach before shifting into the QB role prior to the 2021 season. Curry also played 8 NFL seasons as a WR between the Raiders, Lions and Rams.
"Just like anybody that’s competitive, you just want a shot to go out there and show what you can do,” Curry said. "So, I mean, I’m happy that Tampa called and kind of got the ball rolling. I think the interview went great so, just look forward to hearing from them one way or another.”
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Unless the winds change, there’s no sign of a major expanded role on the Saints in the 2023 season, with the team appearing intent on retaining Carmhichael in that role. Still, there have opportunities. Since Curry joined the Saints in 2016 under Payton, it’d had always been Carmichael calling the plays in the preseason. This season that was Curry oprating in the backup play-caller role and taking over those duties for the preseason contest against the Packers. He anticipates the potential for that happening again.
But Saints’ offensive assistant DJ Williams, who was serving on Curry’s staff as QBs coach at the Senior Bowl, was much more bullish on Curry’s prospects.
“What Ronald Curry is to this game and what he’s done for these players is amazing. I mean, his ability to teach and connect with everybody is just off the charts,” Williams said. "I’m not surprised with anything that’s going on right now. I know that he should be an offensive coordinator in this league. I know more people should give him more opportunities. And I think they’re coming for him because he’s outstanding. That’s like my big brother, man. I might be a little bias, but that’s my guy.”
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Should Curry land the Bucs job under head coach Todd Bowles, which came open with the firing of Byron Leftwich, it'd mark yet another twist in an offseason already marked by significant coaching change. The team already moved on from TE coach and run game coordinator Dan Roushar, co-defensive coordinator and DL coach Ryan Nielsen is now the DC for the Atlanta Falcons and the team parted ways with co-DC and secondary coach Kris Richard, that means at least four new hires, assuming the new DC doesn't double as a position coach. Not to mention the bombshell trade of Payton to the Denver Broncos and the potential for someone like Curry to be a candidate for OC on his new staff. One such interview has already been identified in former Browns DC Al Woods, according to a report from NFL Network.
For now, Curry has his sights set much closer to home while he's out in Mobile.
“I don’t look at it as a job fair like I’m auditioning for other teams. I love being a New Orleans Saint," Curry said. "I didn’t look at it as if I come out here, teams will see what I’m able to do. ... I just feel like it’s just a way of proving that I’m more than capable of doing the job. I’m not auditioning for any teams. I love the job I got. Obviously I want to be a coordinator in this game someday, and I think that will come when the time is right.”
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