The New Orleans Saints have turned over a good portion of their coaching staff heading into the 2022 season, though a lot of the faces remain familiar.
It all starts at the top, with former defensive coordinator Dennis Allen taking over as head coach following the retirement of Sean Payton. But with that change comes significant moves at the positions below him, starting at defensive coordinator.
So where are the changes, new positions, promotions and the like? Here's a rundown of the top-level coaching staff, who held those positions in 2021 and who will man them for the upcoming 2022 season.
HEAD COACH
2021: Sean Payton (and offensive play-caller) since 2006
2022: Dennis Allen (and defensive play-caller; defensive coordinator since 2015)
NOTES: In years past it had been Sean Payton serving as the head coach while calling plays on offense. The Dennis Allen era will be similar, but with the head coach planning to call plays for the defense.
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THE DEFENSE
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DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
2021: Dennis Allen (since 2015)
2022: Kris Richard (secondary) and Ryan Nielsen (DL)
NOTES: One of the more interesting decisions of the Saints' offseason is the choice to go with co-defensive coordinators in Nielsen and Richard, neither of whom will call plays. But what they will retain is the same focus they held in their previous coaching positions. Richard will lead the secondary, while Nielsen will handle the defensive line. This will be an interesting group to watch as the season progresses.
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LINEBACKERS
2021: Michael Hodges
2022: Michael Hodges (with Saints since 2017)
NOTES: While there's no change at this position or the next on the list, it does represent the lone defensive position group led by a coach that doesn't have "co-DC" on his title. It's also a key group along the Saints defense, led by veteran Demario Davis, so stability under DA makes sense here.
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PASS RUSH SPECIALIST
2021: Brian Young
2022: Brian Young (with Saints as coach since 2009)
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SENIOR DEFENSIVE ASSISTANT/DEFENSIVE ASSISTANT
2021: Peter Giunta; Jordan Traylor
2022: Peter Giunta; Jordan Traylor
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SECONDARY ASSISTANT
2021: Cory Robinson
2022: Cory Robinson
NOTES: Stability reigns supreme for the rest of the defensive coaching staff, not exactly a surprise considering how dominant that group has been the past several seasons. While there's some change at the top and with some titles, by and large the defense has maintained its continuity under the new head coaching regime.
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THE OFFENSE
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OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
2021: Pete Carmichael
2022: Pete Carmichael (and play-caller; with Saints as coach since 2006)
NOTES: Pete Carmicahel as offensive coordinator is nothing new for the Saints, but he’ll likely now be tasked with called plays for the offense. He’s done that with success before, taking over for an injured Sean Payton in a 62-7 blowout of the Colts in 2011, as well as the entire 2012 season with Payton suspended from the NFL. He also picked up play-calling duties in the 9-0 victory over the Bucs in the 2021 season. The Saints reportedly conducted a full round of interviews before ultimately landing on Carmichael as the best option to remain in the OC position under Allen.
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QUARTERBACKS
2021: Ronald Curry
2022: Ronald Curry (and pass game coordinator; with Saints as coach since 2016)
NOTES: Ronald Curry represents another familiar face with some new tasks ahead. Along with his duties as QB coach, he’ll also adopt the title of pass game coordinator to further assist Carmichael in his newly expanded role.
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RUN GAME COORDINATOR/TIGHT ENDS
2021: Dan Roushar
2022: Dan Roushar (with Saints as coach since 2013)
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RUNNING BACKS
2021: Joel Thomas
2022: Joel Thomas (with Saints as coach since 2015)
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WIDE RECEIVERS
2021: Curtis Johnson (one season as Saints WRs coach)
2022: Kodi Burns
NOTES: There are a handful of notable changes along the Saints’ offensive staff, with possibly the biggest coming in the form of Kodi Burns. He'll take over the position held for one season by Curtis Johnson, not a major surprise considering the struggles that were seen at the position throughout the 2021 season. In fairness, those struggles were brought on more by the absence of star Michael Thomas and no notable additions to pick up the slack. Still, change makes sense, and Burns brings an impressive resume as he jumps into the NFL ranks for the first time. He spent the 2021 season as the WRs coach at Tennessee -- a familiar stomping ground for several Saints players -- and had spent the prior five seasons at Auburn, where he served as a co-offensive coordinator, passing game coordinator and WRs coach.
OFFENSIVE LINE/ASSISTANT
2021: Brendan Nugent (with Saints as coach since 2015); Zach Strief
2022: Doug Marrone; Zach Strief (with Saints as coach since 2021)
NOTES: Yet another significant change comes along the offensive line, with the return of Doug Marrone, who has served as a head coach twice (Bills/Jaguars) since serving as the first offensive coordinator and OL coach under Sean Payton from 2006-'08. He replaces Brendan Nugent, who had served on the Saints' coaching staff since 2016. While significant, Zach Strief returns in an assistant role along the OL staff, marking some additional stability alongside the new leadership.
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OFFENSIVE ASSISTANTS
2021: Kevin Petry; Declan Doyle; D.J. Williams
2022: Kevin Petry; Declan Doyle; D.J. Williams
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OFFENSIVE ANALYST
2021: Jim Chaney
2022: none
NOTES: The Saints opted not to retain Chaney in this role, which he undertook in 2021 after more than a decade in the college ranks. It remains unclear whether it will be filled prior to the start of the 2022 season.
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SPECIAL TEAMS/STRENGTH
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SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR/ASSISTANT
2021: Darren Rizzi; Phil Galiano (both with Saints as coaches since 2019)
2022: Darren Rizzi (and assistant head coach); Phil Galiano
NOTES: No real surprise the Saints opted to stick with continuity on special teams, considering it's perennially one of the top-performing groups in the NFL. But Rizzi, who also interviewed for the head coach vacancy, has an upgraded title of Assistant Head Coach. It's unclear exactly what added responsiblity comes with that role, but it was previously held by Nielsen prior to his promotion to co-DC.
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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING/ASSISTANTS
2021: Dan Dalrymple (with Saints as coach since 2006); Charles Byrd; Rob Wenning
2022: Charles Byrd; Rob Wenning
NOTES: In one of the more surprising moves on the offseason, the Saints opted not to retain longtime strength and conditioning coach Dan Dalrymple, though his pair of former assistants appear like they’ll remain in their positions. Both continue to be listed as “assistants,” indicating at least one more hire – or promotion – remains likely.
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