New Orleans, La. (WWL/ WGR Sports Radio 550) - The New Orleans Saints’ list of potential head coaches keeps getting shorter.
This time, it's Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who is opting to pull his name out of consideration for the head coaching vacancy in New Orleans, according to reports.
Brady, 35, got his coaching start in New Orleans back in 2017 as an offensive assistant. He went on to be the passing coordinator for the national champion LSU Tigers squad in 2019, and had a short-lived stint as offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers before landing in Buffalo, where he is reportedly satisfied to remain, at this point.
It's a decision that mirrors what Ben Johnson did a year ago, sticking with the Detroit Lions despite interest in head coaching jobs. Johnson signed on as the head coach of the Chicago Bears this offseason.
The Saints conducted a virtual interview with Brady earlier this month, but were not eligible to interview him in-person until after the conference title games.
The same would be true for Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who is still in consideration.
The Bills face the Chiefs in Kansas City on Sunday, while the Eagles host the Washington Commanders. The two winners will be in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
Brady's decision marks the second major target for the Saints to be crossed off their list, along with former Lions defensive coordinator and Saints assistant Aaron Glenn. He has signed on to be the next head coach of the New York Jets.
The Saints are the final remaining head coaching vacancy in the NFL after the Dallas Cowboys hired former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, and the Jacksonville Jaguars hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
New Orleans is working to hire its second head coach in the past four seasons after firing Dennis Allen at the tail end of a seven-game losing streak just before Week 10. The Saints went 3-5 the rest of the way under interim head coach Darren Rizzi, but has a host of questions to answer and a $50 million salary cap overage as they work to pick their next head coach.
The positive spin for the Saints will be they have no competition for their remaining candidates. That group includes Rizzi, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and New York Giants offensive coordiantor Mike Kafka among those who have completed in-person interviews.
The Saints are also expected to pursue Moore, and work to schedule an interview with former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
The team has also requested to interview Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who has stated he won't pursue head coaching opportunities until Washington's season is over. At this point, it's unclear whether he'll take an interview with the Saints, whenever that is.