So you thought the New Orleans Saints coaching news was over? Think again.
Longtime running backs coach Joel Thomas is the latest to enter the carousel, with the Arizona Cardinals requesting to interview him for their offensive coordinator vacancy, according to a report from Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.
The news comes in the same week that the Saints hired five new assistant coaches:
- Defensive coordinator: Joe Woods
- Secondary coach: Marcus Robertson
- Defensive line coach: Todd Grantham
- Tight ends coach: Clancy Barone
- Asst. offensive line coach: Kevin Carberry
Thomas, 48, has been coaching Saints running backs since 2015 and has helped Alvin Kamara climb into the elite tier of NFL running backs over that tenure.
The Cardinals were among the last NFL teams to settle on their next head coach, having also flirted with Sean Payton this offseason, landing former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Browns quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing and Commanders WRs coach Drew Terrell have also reportedly been requested for interviews.
The news means the Saints have to be on the lookout for two key position coaches potentially heading out of town prior to the 2023 season. The Broncos have already poached former Saints assistants Zach Strief (OL coach) and Declan Doyle (TE coach), and have interviewed Ronald Curry for the OC opening under Payton. The Saints parted ways with co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Kris Richard earlier this month, and he has been interviewed for the Broncos DC job, though Rex Ryan is viewed as the front-runner for that job.
The Saints have already replaced co-defensive coordinator and DL coach Ryan Nielsen, who is now the Falcons DC, and TE coach Dan Roushar, whom the team parted ways with following the 2022 season.
